Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper has called up George Hemmings to train with the senior ranks at the City Ground. The Welshman has lost several key players during the international break and that has handed an opportunity to some burgeoning talents.
The youngster has been featuring regularly for the club’s under-18 outfit. Despite his tender years, he’s made 14 appearances this season in the U18 Premier League and has also made a brief outing for the under-21s.
Hemmings typically operates as a central midfielder. At the moment, the club are clearly finding a position that is best for him and he has played as a number 10 this season too.
The Reds are going pretty well in the U18 Premier League. After a sticky start to the campaign, they’re now unbeaten in four games and will hope to finish with a flourish.
With international football taking centre stage, Cooper has seen his training ground look somewhat deserted. As a result, several younger players have been given the chance to train with the first team.
Hemmings is one of those and he’s been snapped training and interestingly, in the photo, he’s doing battle with Ryan Yates, a player who knows all about progressing through the ranks.
Cooper has called up Hemmings to Forest training and the experience could prove vital
This is great news. Despite Forest now performing as a Premier League club, it’s good to see that Cooper hasn’t ditched the club’s youth academy completely.
Naturally, when a club reaches the top flight, big-name signings will usually replace the academy lads but that hasn’t been the case.
It must give the younger lads, like Hemmings confidence from looking at the current setup. Joe Worrall, Ryan Yates and Brennan Johnson have all been heavily involved this season having previously been in the academy.
Hemmings might be some way off the first-team fold just yet. This experience should put him in good shape though and now he will be craving more opportunities with the senior ranks.