Nottingham Forest gem Aaron Donnelly was once again called upon as a central defender during a 2-0 win for Port Vale on Saturday.
It’s been a turbulent few weeks for the Staffordshire-based club and the upheaval can’t have made life easy for Donnelly.
Darrell Clarke was sacked despite the manager retaining the backing of the supporters and now their League One status looks secure for another season.
The man who guided Vale to League One last season was surprisingly sacked, with Andy Crosby taking over on an interim basis.
Forest starlet Donnelly hasn’t let the change impact him and he once again did a decent job as the left-sided central defender at the weekend.
The Reds allowed the 19-year-old out on loan in January. He played for Forest in the Carabao Cup in August and looks ready for men’s football.
On Saturday, Donnelly once again showcased his versatility. He started the game on the left of a back three and earned some praise from the Stoke Sentinel.
They claimed: “Steady performance from the youngster on the left of a back three. Mix up with Stone over a cross was a minor blemish.”
Donnelly player as a central defender once again and Forest decision beckons
When the youngster played for the Reds against Grimsby he started as a left-back. Now, however, he seems to have been converted to a central defender.
It will be interesting to see what happens when it comes to the summer for Donnelly.
Forest might choose to keep him for pre-season, especially if the club are preparing for another campaign of Championship football.
The Reds will likely add a few players to their squad if they were to go down. However, they would have to cut their cloth accordingly.
That could open the door for Donnelly to impress and after a season with Vale, he could prove himself as someone who is capable when it comes to the Championship.
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