Nottingham Forest must start Ryan Yates at Tottenham on Saturday

Add as preferred source on Google

Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with Everton yesterday and the Reds welcomed back Ryan Yates to the squad. His performance during his short time on the pitch highlighted that he simply must start against Tottenham next week.

The 25-year-old has been missing for the last couple of months. Yates’ injury problem hasn’t been disclosed and Steve Cooper has insisted that it will remain a private matter.

Yates is the current vice-captain at the City Ground. He has featured 24 times in all competitions during 2022/23, scoring a couple of goals and claiming a couple of assists.

The academy graduate has been a mainstay in the Forest team since Cooper arrived at the club. He’s a trusted member of the squad and always gives his all for the team.

Yates has been sorely missed in the Forest team. Yesterday, he offered a short reminder of his qualities after being introduced in the 70th minute by the head coach.

The midfielder only touched the ball nine times when he came on the pitch. His game is about lots of running though and he did look like his usual energetic self which bodes well.

Despite not getting many touches of the ball, Yates did something brilliant. His cutback for Brennan Johnson allowed the Reds to equalise with 14 minutes remaining and he will take the assist.

Jamie Carragher is a huge fan of Yates. He called him ‘fantastic’ after Forest had drawn with Chelsea back in January.

Forest welcomed back Yates and he must start at Tottenham

The Reds are in abysmal form away from home. With Tottenham chasing a place in the Champions League next season, they will be running their hands together at the thought of playing Forest at home.

Forest have to go to North London with a fearless mentality. If the hosts smell blood, the Reds could go under heavily and with that in mind, Yates has to start at Tottenham.

There’s a saying that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Yates offered a reminder yesterday of what Forest have been missing whilst he’s been out injured of late.

Forest won just one of the games that Yates didn’t play in over the last few weeks. He’s a vitally important player and the sooner he is starting games again the better.