Nottingham Forest added 12 new players to their ranks during the summer transfer window and several of those additions are busy making an impact on the pitch.
One of those is Portuguese defender Yuri Ribeiro who arrived from European giants Benfica. The 22-year-old signed for the Reds at the same time as Alfa Semedo who penned loan terms on Trentside.
The little speedster has penned permanent terms at the City Ground and he is already making a mockery of the fact that Forest didn’t pay a penny for his services (Sport Witness).
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He has shown the versatility to play on the left-wing as well as his natural position of left-back and he already looks like a shrewd piece of business by the football club.
The most pleasing aspect about Ribeiro’s early performances in a Forest shirt is that he doesn’t look fazed by the demands of the Championship.
On Tuesday night at Blackburn, he was subjected to a woeful challenge from Darragh Lenihan. Instead of going into hiding he rolled up his sleeves, knuckled down and made sure he was first to the next crunching challenge.
A lot can be made by supporters when players arrive as unknown quantities from lesser foreign leagues but anyone who was worried about Ribeiro needn’t have worried.
The pocket rocket has 13 caps for the Portugal under-21 team and he is a big hit with supporters on social media. One aspect that does please the Forest faithful is that he wears his heart on his sleeve in every single game.
Commitment
He already looks like the sort of bloke who would walk over hot coals if it was to enhance the prospects of Forest claiming three points and that trait will go down a treat in the stands.
Ribeiro is proof that players don’t have to be signed with a wealth of Championship experience in order to make an impact. He is evidence that players should be given a chance to kick a ball in English football before they are branded as failures or pointless signings.
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The key for Ribeiro is to hold down a regular place in the team. He and Jack Robinson are both able left-backs and there is a case that the youngster’s ability to play further forward will help him receive more opportunities.
Forest’s new recruit played nine times for Benfica’s first-team and given his tender years he will surely only continue to improve.
Getting Ribeiro on a free transfer already looks like quality business and Forest will perhaps look towards similar bargains when the January transfer window reopens.