Nottingham Forest and Scotland coach Steven Reid has been blown away with the impact Scott McKenna has enjoyed at the City Ground (Press and Journal).
The Reds signed the Aberdeen defender back in September and has earned himself a recall to the Scotland squad.
McKenna, 23, has slotted in seamlessly at the heart of the Forest back four, helping the team to 12 points from Chris Hughton’s seven games in charge.
Scotland face make-or-break games against Serbia, Slovakia and Israel, before return to action at Barnsley on Saturday week.
Reid joined Hughton’s coaching staff shortly after he arrived at the club and has been impressed with the uncompromising defender.
He told the Press and Journal: “It’s great to have that fantastic relationship with him at club level with the national team.
“He’s been fantastic for the last few games for us at Nottingham Forest; I’m almost sick of seeing him now!
“He’s been great since he got that big move in the summer and hopefully he continues that for us.
“He felt it was the right time – there’d been speculation for a couple of years – to test himself in a different league.
“I’ve been impressed with him and I know the manager has, with his performances at club level. With missing the last camp, it’s good to have him back.”
The Verdict – Forest have struck gold with McKenna
Some eyebrows were raised when the Reds took a chance on McKenna from the Scottish Premiership, paying the Dons £3 million for his services.
That fee could eventually rise to £6 million and even if it does it looks like money well spent.
McKenna has been superb since checking in and fired home his first goal for Forest during a recent game with Coventry.
The Reds haven’t always got it right when it comes to recruitment in recent years.
With McKenna the club has struck gold, however, and long may his good form continue.