Costel Pantilimon was not involved at all when Nottingham Forest played host to Crystal Palace on Friday.
He didn’t even make the bench.
Arijanet Muric started again, with Luke Steele filling back-up duties.
The man between the sticks impressed against the Eagles.
A 20-year-old loanee had endured a tough time in a previous friendly outing against Olympiakos, but showed what he is about in a meeting with Palace.
That could be the long-term contribution from Muric.
A bit of a mixed bag.
He is short on competitive senior experience, which will result in the odd dip, but boasts enough potential to justify a show of faith.
Which is what he is getting.
Pantilimon isn’t.
Future
Making the obvious question: What does the future now hold for him?
The giant Romanian is still tied to a contract through to 2021.
He did not, however, join on a permanent basis last summer to play second fiddle to anybody.
At 32 years of age, and with plenty to offer, he deserves to figure prominently somewhere.
That may not be the case at the City Ground.
Sabri Lamouchi has claimed that rotation took Pantilimon out of plans for the Frenchman’s first game at the City Ground.
He has said in the Nottingham Post: “Costel does not have an injury. It was just my choice. There was nothing negative in that decision.
“Luke Steele did not travel to Greece and we have players here, where we must make some choices over.
“Aro played very well and I am happy with the atmosphere and with what Costel is doing.”
While ‘giving everyone a look in’ may be the official line, you get the feeling that an exit door has swung open.
Talk of interest from Olympiakos surfaced in the Nottingham Post prior to a clash with Evangelos Marinakis’ other team.
There are bound to be other suitors.
Suitors
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You would expect Forest to be reluctant to part with such experience.
Muric is, after all, only at the City Ground on a season-long loan.
What happens in 2020 when the Kosovo international returns to Manchester City?
Does Jordan Smith, another of those to be given a day off against Palace, step up the ladder again?
Are Forest already planning to bring in a long-term No. 1 at some stage?
Questions such as those are never a good thing for anyone looking to put down roots.
Pantilimon will be asking plenty of his own.
He has not always boasted universal support during his time on Trentside, but has fared admirably on the whole.
Allowing him to move on may prove to be a decision Forest live to regret.
That hasn’t happened yet, though, so there may still be time to shut the City Ground doors and windows before the next deadline passes.
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