Chris Wilder has been discussing the situation regarding Djed Spence and his loan at Nottingham Forest.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a recall by Middlesbrough with the former Sheffield United boss now in place at the Riverside Stadium.
Wilder was at Forest to watch Spence on Saturday as the Reds beat Preston 3-0 at the City Ground.
That has sparked speculation that Spence could be recalled when the January transfer window comes around.
Naturally, Wilder was quizzed on the situation when he spoke to the media for the first time.
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It would seem nothing more than due diligence at this stage, however, and perhaps panic from a Forest perspective is premature.
He told the Hartlepool Mail: “I will assess everything in the football squad. First and foremost that is the players; whether they’re out on loan, they’re here on loan, the kids, every player that’s connected to the club will be assessed.
“We will be thorough to make sure we get it right. Whether we bring players back, whether we keep them out, we’ll try and make decisions on them.
“The squad is a bit unbalanced and in January we’ll try and balance it up a bit. We want a squad that’s got competition, that’s got the characteristics that I want – physically and mentally.”
Wilder comments offer hope for Forest over Spence
At this stage, Wilder has made no decision. The fact he’s suggested the squad is already unbalanced offers Forest hope of keeping Spence.
Boro already have Anfernee Dijksteel, Darnell Fisher and Lee Peltier who can play at right-back and they are stocked in that area of the pitch.
Forest are never too far away from meltdown and perhaps we need to just relax at the moment.
Wilder might oversee a remarkable transformation and get the team firing up the Championship.
If they do that there seems little chance he’ll recall Spence and plenty could happen between now and January.
Forest would dearly miss Spence if he was to leave but right now, it simply isn’t worth worrying about.