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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Tom Leach

Five players you forgot were still at Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest's enormous squad for the 2019-29 campaign was criticised at the start of the season for simply being just far too big.

Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi arrived with fans expecting to see him trip the squad before the start of the season, but instead, he only added to it.

Currently, the Reds boast 41 senior players, including youth stars who have made the step up at some stage this term and Lamouchi only added to that total during his tenure.

But the strength in depth has proved vital to his side's success this term and an incredible 40 players have been used since their opening day defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Here are the five players you have probably forgotten still play for Forest...

Zac Clough

Zach Clough. (Dan Westwell)

Now aged 25, Zac Clough has not played a game for Forest since Aitor Karanka was in charge.

In that time he has enjoyed loan spells with Rochdale and Bolton Wanderers with minimal success.

Under both Martin O'Neill and Lamouchi, Clough was heavily linked with an exit but remains at the City Ground.

His current deal will not expire until the end of next season (2021).

Michael Hefele

Forest's Michael Hefele ahead of the FA Cup third round match at Stamford Bridge (Adam Davy/PA Wire)

One of O'Neill's many signings, Michael Hefele was remarkable for Huddersfield Town in the Championship a few years back.

He has been unable to replicate that form for the Reds, however.

The big German has made the matchday squad once under Lamouchi, but did not play a part and has since fade completely out of the first-team fold.

Nuno Da Costa

New Nottingham Forest signing Nuno da Costa trains with Tiago Silva, Ben Watson and Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest FC)

January signings Nuno Da Costa may well have a successful Forest career ahead of him, but as of yet, he has proven to be very, very quiet.

The Portuguese forward was chased hard by Lamouchi in January before the Frenchman secured his signature.

A brief 20-minute cameo is all that we have seen from him so far, but he could still play a part between now and the end of the season.

Yohan Benalouane

Tunisian defender Yohan Benalouane (NFFC)

Yohan Benalouane was a regular last season, but injuries have kept him far from the first team this term.

The French-Tunisian defender has counted just 44 minutes on the field since Lamouchi took charge in July.

Virgil Gomis

Nottingham Forest's Virgil Gomis slots the ball past Lincoln City goalkeeper Grant Smith to make it 1-1 during the pre-season friendly at Sincil Bank on Monday 29th July 2019. (Dan Westwell)

Once tipped to grow into a Forest first-teamer, talented youngster Virgil Gomis could well depart Forest this summer without an appearance to his name

The 20-year-old has turned out for Notts County, Macclesfield and Braintree during loan spells but has now been surpassed by younger academy stars in his race for a Championship shot.

Since returning from Macclesfield in January, where he managed just two goals in 14 appearances, he has not played any competitive football.

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