Ryan Yates is, according to The Telegraph, next in line to earn a new contract at Nottingham Forest.
Said update should come as no real surprise.
A product of the Reds’ famed academy is just 22 years of age.
With his current deal at the City Ground due to run until the summer of 2021.
There is clearly much more that the combative midfielder can offer to the collective cause.
It has to be remembered that he has only been a regular part of the first-team set-up on Trentside for less than 12 months.
Yates were very much on the fringes of the fold under Aitor Karanka.
It was not until Martin O’Neill returned to Nottingham that a senior door swung open.
Many had been calling for another home-grown talent to be given a chance in the engine room.
Yates let nobody down across 16 appearances in the second-half of the 2018-19 campaign.
Reputation
In many ways he was one of few to end that season with their reputation enhanced.
Forest rather limped into the summer, despite ending O’Neill’s reign ending with three successive wins.
Few will forget Yates’ passionate celebrations at the end of his first encounter with Derby – with Richard Keogh choosing the wrong youngster to pick an argument with.
A pre-season setback was untimely, to say the least.
With O’Neill ushered through the exits, the slate was wiped clean on Trentside.
Sabri Lamouchi arrived with a fresh set of eyes and ideas, while also looking to inevitably bolster his ranks.
The likes of Samba Sow and Alfa Semedo were among those added to the pot.
Ben Watson, meanwhile, came back into favour when using up another of his seemingly nine lives.
Yates, after a brief outing against Alfreton, found himself stuck on the treatment table.
He would not be seen again until October 23.
A positive return to action was made, earning him starting berths in a meeting with Luton and another derby duel with the Rams.
Yates was, however, to suffer a rush of blood away at Bristol City – with a red card and early bath the end result.
Forest dug in at Ashton Gate to secure a 0-0 draw, but the post-game debate focused mainly on one rather rash challenge.
Reckless
__VIDEO__
In the eyes of some, Yates had shown himself to be reckless and untrustworthy when it comes to filling an important role in the middle of the park.
Such talk was rather exaggerated – the kind of comments made in the immediate aftermath of a frustrating afternoon when emotions are still running high.
Lamouchi admitted that Yates was given a harsh lesson in the South West.
The Reds boss is, however, seemingly ready to forgive and forget.
Which is refreshing to hear.
If you believe what you read, then Yates could commit to fresh terms before Forest head to Millwall on Friday.
He will be serving the final instalment of a three-match ban in that encounter, but could have plenty to celebrate.
Matty Cash has already signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal, while calls for Lamouchi to be tied down are growing in intensity.
Forest are aware of the need to plan and build long-term, with contract talks a welcome display of ambition from the club and commitment from those putting pen to paper.
Long may that continue, with Yates boasting the ability and attitude to form part of exciting projects being pieced together on and off the field.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
