Teenager Alex Mighten says new Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton has been offering advice about how he can improve, as he looks to continue his progress this season.
Mighten has yet to feature for Hughton, having been an unused substitute for his first three matches in charge.
But he says the former Brighton and Newcastle United manager is aware of his potential to have an impact on games.
With plenty of competition for a place in the team, it is now about biding his time.
“He’s spoken to me personally, just trying to get to know me and get some more information on me as a player,” Mighten said.
“He said that he has watched me a few times and knows how I can hurt the opposition and help the team.
“He has gone through some ways that he thinks I can improve and looked at different elements.
“The first impressions of him have been very good, you can tell he is very well drilled and very experienced with what he has done previously.
“Obviously he has been promoted and been in the Premier League, and he has done a very good job with us so far.
“We are trying to learn his style of play, and I think that together we will get that very quickly.”
It was former head coach Sabri Lamouchi who handed Mighten his debut for the club last term.
And the Frenchman also picked the 18-year-old for his first league start, in what proved to be his final game in the dugout - the 2-1 defeat to Bristol City earlier this month.
On his own start to the campaign, Mighten told the club programme: “It has been difficult because the team has been in a difficult situation, but I have just tried to affect the games when I have come on.
“I was lucky enough to get my first league start, against Bristol City. And despite the result, I tried and really gave it a go.
“I felt I had some decent opportunities and I tried to create for the team, but it just didn’t go our way in the end.
“I want to keep trying to affect the games when I get the opportunity.
“I was feeling nervous before that first start. The league is the priority and we will always do our best in the league to achieve our goals.
“It was my first league start, so I was always going to be a bit nervy. But once I got out there and had my first few touches, those nerves went out the window and I just tried to play my normal game.
“For a young player, you need a run of games to build the confidence that allows you to go out there and be yourself on the pitch.
“I think as time has gone on, I have been allowed that and I can only get better from here.
“I just want to keep trying to get my opportunity, and hopefully I can take it.”
The Reds currently find themselves towards the bottom end of the table, having lost their opening four Championship fixtures under Lamouchi.
But Mighten is confident they can quickly get back on track, as they aim to once again push for promotion.
“There is plenty of time as it is a long season,” he said.
“We have a lot of games coming up so it is a good opportunity to get some points on the board and get some good results.
“That is what the manager is here for and what he is trying to help us do.”
