Nottingham Forest academy graduate Arvin Appiah is the latest in a long line of talented youngsters to make a genuine push towards senior stardom.
The winger has this week been described by boss Martin O’Neill as a ‘natural talent’, with the 18-year-old pushing desperately hard for an opportunity, according to quotes in the Nottingham Post.
Appiah has been on the bench in recent weeks; whilst he made a goalscoring debut in the EFL Cup defeat against Burton Albion earlier in the campaign.
The England u18 international now trains with the first-team regularly and looks likely to be the next to emerge from the conveyor belt of talent.
Backing from the boss
Appiah came on for his league debut in the Championship win over Leeds United recently and O’Neill is an admirer.
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The Forest boss told the Nottingham Post: “He is a really good talent.
“It will be nice to work with players like that – young players who want to learn; who want to improve their game.
“The natural talent is there to start with and if you have that with other things to compliment it with, you are in business.”
The latest comments from the boss will excite supporters who love seeing their own talent make the leap towards regular first-team football.
O’Neill continued: “I would not say he is a million miles away from my thoughts. In the training sessions, I thought he was good.
“He goes past players. He still has lots to do but I think he is more than capable.”
Appiah signed a new long-term contract last week, as confirmed on the club’s official website.
These latest comments will naturally trigger talk among supporters of when they might see the youngster start his first game.