Ethan Horvath has lauded the impact Brice Samba has had on his Nottingham Forest career to date during an interview with Nottinghamshire Live.
The Reds custodian has been in the team for the last two games, keeping clean sheets against Preston and Bristol City.
Horvath will be playing again on Friday against Sheffield United as Samba completes his three-match ban.
The American goalkeeper has waited patiently for his chance to shine at the City Ground.
He played twice in the Carabao Cup but was largely underwhelming during Chris Hughton’s final game in charge against Middlesbrough.
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Samba will be excited to get back involved after his suspension and Horvath has praised the Congolese stopper’s influence.
He told Nottinghamshire Live: “The training sessions are competitive, but also we have a good laugh.
“Brice has helped me, we have a good relationship. We’re here to help each other. It’s not an individual sport – it’s a team sport. We’re always here to help and speak to each other.
“It’s a great atmosphere at the club, the manager is young and everyone is buzzing.
“It’s really, really nice. We all trust each other. It’s football, mistakes will happen – a bad poss or a bad whatever will happen. I think we do a good job of picking each other up. We’re all behind one another.”
Horvath has opportunity to make real Forest claim
In fairness to the 26-year-old, he wasn’t truly tested against either Preston or Bristol City.
An in-form Sheffield United will provide a stern test though and the American now needs to grasp his chance.
Forest face Huddersfield in the FA Cup on Monday and Horvath will fancy a piece of that action.
In order to persuade Cooper to give him that chance, he simply has to maintain his form from his more recent outings.
Even then it might not be enough but fans will be pleased that Horvath is performing arguably better than many expected him to.