Nottingham Forest loanee Josh Bowler critiqued as Blackpool are relegated

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Nottingham Forest-owned player Josh Bowler struggled as Blackpool were relegated after a 3-2 defeat to Millwall on Friday night.

The Tangerines have ended a two-year stay in the second tier and Bowler will almost certainly return to Forest in the summer.

It’s been a strange season for the winger. Forest signed him on transfer deadline day in August but loaned him straight to Olympiacos.

Under Michel, he struggled for game time and in January he was recalled and sent to the club where he excelled last season.

Bowler hasn’t been the same player since returning to Bloomfield Road and he’s found the net just twice since heading back there.

The Blackpool Gazette were pretty scathing and claimed: “He tried to make things happen but he’s still a shadow of his former self. Gave the ball away on one or two occasions.”

Bowler will now wait to see what the future holds. If Forest remain in the Premier League, it’s probably unlikely that the 24-year-old will get a chance to shine.

If Forest are relegated, however, Bowler could slot in just nicely. He knows the Championship inside out and he could be a very useful player for the squad.

Under Neil Critchley, he was magnificent last season. The hope will be that if Cooper remains at Forest, he could have a similar impact on Bowler’s career.

Bowler struggled as Blackpool are relegated

It’s not the first time this season that the Blackpool Gazette has questioned Bowler since he returned to the club.

For the tricky winger, it’s been a tough season. The first half of it spent kicking his heels in Greece clearly hasn’t helped and perhaps that wasn’t a great move.

Form is temporary, however, and Bowler will hope to prove that class is permanent.

When he signed for Forest, he was excited following his interview to be joining the Reds and he will be desperate to earn a shot with the Reds next season.