Nottingham Forest winger Josh Bowler is finding the going tough at Blackpool. The 24-year-old turned out against Bristol City on Saturday and was given some criticism by the Blackpool Gazette.
It’s been a weird few months for Bowler. Forest signed him on transfer deadline day in August but was immediately loaned out to Evangelos Marinakis’ other club Olympiacos.
He wasn’t featuring regularly enough under Michel in Greece and Forest recalled him in January. They quickly loaned him back out to Blackpool where he had started the 2022/23 campaign.
Things haven’t gone according to plan though. He’s struggled to showcase the talent that Blackpool fans know he’s capable of and the Tangerines are heading back down to League One.
On Saturday, Blackpool faced Bristol City and Bowler was once again handed a starting berth. It didn’t go well though and the Blackpool Gazette critiqued his performance.
They said: “A long way off the Josh Bowler we saw last season. Confidence is on the floor. Tried to take the game to them but little came off.”
Bowler still has bags of potential and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the player. Right now, he needs to regain some confidence and try to lift Blackpool to safety.
Forest winger Bowler finding the going tough at Blackpool
If Forest do get relegated this season, the Reds will look to give Bowler an opportunity in the team. If, however, they stay in the Premier League a chance looks unlikely.
Bowler is a decent player at Championship level. It’s not been an easy season for him in honesty and it’s hard not to feel some sympathy that his form is now suffering somewhat.
The youngster can play on either flank. He’s a tricky customer who isn’t afraid to take opponents on and Forest could perhaps benefit from him in their team in the future.
There is enough of the season left for Bowler to come good. He hasn’t become a bad player overnight and Forest will hope he can hit some form between now and May.