Nottingham Forest spent the summer being pro-active in the transfer market and when the window slammed shut 12 new faces had checked in at the City Ground.
Some suspicions were raised among some supporters that not many of the new arrivals boasted Championship experience.
The likes of Tiago Silva, Yuri Ribeiro, Alfa Semedo, Samba Sow and Brice Samba had all never kicked a ball in English football prior to the start of this season.
Just three months into the 2019/20 campaign and those cynics have been silenced, however. Forest are flying high in fifth and Sabri Lamouchi is quietly going about his business as boss.
One man who has caught the eye, in particular, is midfield maestro Sow. The 30-year-old arrived from Dinamo Moscow for £640,000 (Nottinghamshire Live) at a time when many supporters believed the middle of the park wasn’t in need of strengthening.
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Some statistics have emerged today that prove he is already becoming worth his weight in gold. Between the Lines have tweeted some statistics on Twitter showcasing the Championship players with the most tackles made per game.
Combative
At this stage of the campaign Sow is sat top of the pops with an average of 4.2 tackles per game, ahead of Hull’s Kevin Stewart (4.0) and Kalvin Phillips (3.9.).
Sow has been missing for the last four Championship matches after picking up a hamstring problem in the 1-0 win over Brentford.
These statistics highlight just how important he is to the Reds though.
The Malian now has another two weeks to completely shake off his injury and be ready to help Lamouchi’s team during a tough-looking run of fixtures.
Ryan Yates has looked useful in the last two games against Luton and Derby and having won both of those games he may take some dislodging from the team.
Shrewd
The man with 38 caps for his country looks a really astute piece of business, however, and will probably return to the side when he is fully fit.
Sow is an uncompromising figure in midfield and his partnership with Ben Watson proved the catalyst for Forest to go 10 games unbeaten earlier in the season.
These statistics have made a mockery of any supporter who questioned Sow’s arrival during the summer.
Forest will hope there is more to come from the big man and will hope to see him back on the pitch very soon.
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