Joe Worrall provides shining light during drab Nottingham Forest season

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It hurts to say it, but Nottingham Forest have been way off the pace during the current campaign and positives are tricky to find.

One has stood tall, however, and when called upon this season Joe Worrall has showcased his undeniable talent.

The youngster has picked up a broken foot and is currently nursing a cracked rib. When he’s been fit though, he’s provided Forest with a rare shining light.

Worrall is Nottinghamshire born and bred. From the parks of Hucknall where he grew up, to the green carpet of the City Ground within a few years.

He is someone who the fans can relate to and the 24-year-old is very much one of our own.

It’s no secret that Premier League clubs will monitor his progress in the summer but this season he will have placed some zeros on his valuation.

Worrall has 26 appearances to his name during 2020/21 – and in 14 of those games he has worn the captain’s armband.

Depending on who you speak to, there is a suggestion that the centre-back should wear the strap permanently – but that’s a different matter.

Worrall’s mistake in the game away at Derby towards the back end of last season saw him come under-fire.

It was a naive moment of madness but he’s shown superb resilience to put that behind him and reset himself.

Forest have dearly missed him when he hasn’t played this season.

He has showcased the sort of form that will alert top-flight clubs and despite Forest’s struggles, has proved himself as one of the league’s best defenders.

How far can Worrall go?

Forest fans would dearly love the academy graduate to have one more season with the Reds.

Worrall would surely relish the chance to be part of a team that gets Forest back into the Premier League for the first time in over 20 years.

Circumstances may dictate that’s not possible though.

Forest will have FFP to be wary of whilst they aren’t in the Premier League and Worrall could be the next cash cow.

Matty Cash was sold to Aston Villa last summer and that allowed Forest to keep hold of Worrall for the time being.

Despite his relatively tender years, the enforcer has made 129 appearances for his boyhood club.

Worrall is certainly tailor-made to play Premier League football, which perhaps doesn’t bode well for Forest.

He is big, strong and crucially is comfortable in passing out from the back; a trait which is often identified as crucial in the modern game.

Previously it has been claimed that Worrall is valued between £12-15 million by the Reds.

After enhancing his stature this season, that should represent the absolute minimum that Forest are willing to open talks at.

Burnley, West Brom and even Arsenal have been linked with moves in the past.

Worrall should be fit after the international break and the defender will want Forest to finish with a flourish.

Despite a drab campaign from a Reds perspective, the uncompromising defender has stood tall and provided at least one shining light on the 2020/21 campaign.