Nottingham Forest have a proud history of producing players through their own youth academy, with some going onto play in the Premier League and abroad.
Academy director Gary Brazil has done a superb job of developing players to a point where they are ready to make the step up to first-team football.
Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas, Andy Reid, Oliver Burke and Ben Osborn are just a few examples of players who have shone in the first-team and then left to play top-flight football.
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Every year the debate among supporters turns to which member of the academy will be the next to graduate to the senior squad.
One man who could be edging closer to a first-team place is talented midfielder Tyrese Fornah.
The 19-year-old has shared a photo on Twitter that suggests he has been taking part in training with Sabri Lamouchi’s first-team:
Fornah joined the Forest youth ranks after being released by Brighton and he is a regular in Jimmy Gilligan’s under-23 side.
During the pre-season campaign, he played in games against Lincoln City and Mansfield Town and looked lively in both.
Versatile
One thing that Fornah does have in his favour is that he can play in a number of midfielder roles; although he has developed into a solid defensive midfielder during the last 12 months.
It would seem unlikely that Fornah will earn a chance with the first-team this season; although this tweet does suggest that he is firmly on Lamouchi’s radar.
With Ben Watson, Alfa Semedo, Samba Sow, John Bostock and Brennan Johnson all vying for places in the middle of the park, it would take a sizeable injury crisis in order for Fornah to receive the call-up to a squad.
Training with the group is a good sign though and Fornah will hope to win a first-team opportunity in the coming years.
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