When Nottingham Forest completed the signing of Samba Sow it is fair to say that very few supporters were jumping for joy.
The Dynamo Moscow midfielder was clearly an unknown quantity and he arrived at a time when the Forest faithful were crying out for the return of Jack Colback.
Nottinghamshire Live claimed that Sow cost the club just £640,000 and that at least did quash any major concerns among the Forest faithful.
Any supporters that were concerned over the quality and the fact that Sow wasn’t a household Championship name needn’t have worried.
The 30-year-old is seven games into his Nottingham Forest career and he is well on his way to making a mockery of such a paltry transfer fee. Jack who?
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Sow is a battering ram in human form and his performances so far have largely been impressive.
Guy Moussi earned plaudits for his performances back during Billy Davies’ time in charge and, although Sow is not too dissimilar to the Frenchman, it does feel like he is a more composed version.
The man who has also played his club football in Turkey and France boasts 38 caps for Mali and it comes as little surprise that he has played international football.
Solid
Against Stoke, Sow arguably turned in his most impressive performance in the red of Forest. According to Who Scored, he made seven tackles, had a pass success percentage of 87% and dispossessed the opposition on two occasions.
It has been a while since Forest had any serious height in midfield. The 6’2″ presence of Sow certainly gives the Reds an element of intimidation for opposition players to contend with.
In getting the player to the City Ground the recruitment team deserve immense praise. He showed his true worth against Stoke in terms of statistics; although he changed the game when he was introduced against Preston and was arguably Forest’s best player in the magnificent win at Swansea City.
Only time will tell whether or not he will prove a really shrewd signing but on current form, it seems a foregone conclusion.
Sow already looks like being a mainstay in the Forest team if he can maintain his fitness and not too many supporters are pining for the return of a likeable ginger-haired midfielder from last season.
If his current purple patch continues then soon the whole Championship will know all about the previously unknown Samba Sow.