Former Nottingham Forest star Joe Lolley has been handed the number 10 squad number ahead of his first season at Sydney FC.
The A-League gets underway this weekend, with Lolley and co taking on Melbourne Victory in their opening game.
The Reds trickster made a surprise move to Australia after being deemed surplus to requirements by Steve Cooper.
Forest won promotion to the Premier League last season and Lolley headed out on a pre-season tour to Spain.
After playing in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Coventry, it was reported that Lolley had been told he could find a new club.
Some tentative interest came from the Championship but instead, he moved to Australia for a new challenge.
Sydney FC will hope to enjoy a decent campaign during 22/23. Last season they finished in a lowly eighth and improvements are required.
Lolley looks to have been identified as a stellar signing, with his squad number indicating as much.
He’s been handed the number 10 shirt and it’s one that he never got his hands on during his time at Forest.
The player signed from Huddersfield in 2018 and immediately took the number 23 upon his arrival.
He kept that number during the four seasons he spent at the City Ground and chose not to change.
Now, he must be relishing the chance to establish himself in Australia as Sydney’s new number 10.
Lolley handed squad number by Sydney FC
With the season set to get underway in Australia, Lolley now has the chance to make a fresh start.
Lolley’s form hadn’t been good for a couple of seasons and letting him depart made perfect sense.
The Reds added 22 new players during the summer and naturally, some of the players from last season were forced to make way.
Lolley was held in high regard by the club’s supporters and he will now hope to strike up a similar rapport in Sydney.
He will hope to do the number 10 shirt justice and it seems clear he’s going to be the main man for the club.