Sabri Lamouchi has taken to English football with absolute aplomb. His Nottingham Forest side are currently fifth in the Championship with 28 points from their opening 14 fixtures.
A strong squad was inherited by the French boss but he still needed to make some new additions. The players he has signed were largely from the European market but such a strategy is paying dividends.
One of those new recruits who is really settling into the team is Portuguese left-back, Yuri Ribeiro.
The 22-year-old was added on a free transfer at the same time as Alfa Semedo who also joined from Benfica, but only on a season-long loan deal.
After initially being forced to play a waiting game behind Jack Robinson, the energetic youngster now looks like the first-choice left-back in Lamouchi’s ranks.
He was once again in fine form at the weekend. His lung-busting display earned him a place in the Who Scored Team of the Week.
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Despite only being a Forest for a matter of months he is already hugely popular with the club’s supporters, whilst it would appear that the adoration is reciprocated from the player.
After Saturday’s superb derby-day victory, he has taken to Twitter to speak of his pride at the performance.
Ribeiro is yet to put in a bad performance during his 10 outings for Forest. He has even showcased an ability to play on the left-wing if required, giving Lamouchi an element of versatility too.
Ironic
It has taken Forest several years to find a capable left-back. As is typically the case you wait for ages for one and then two come along in quick succession.
Robinson did a tremendous job last season and he also looked like a quality piece of business on a free transfer.
Ribeiro is showing signs that he can become even better than the ex-Liverpool man though and Forest have pulled off a real masterstroke in landing the Benfica man.
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