Nottingham Forest defender Steve Cook has no future at the football club beyond this summer. The Reds omitted the centre-back from their 25-man squad for the second half of 2022/23 and it would seem that there is no chance of a reprieve.
Cook signed for Forest from Bournemouth in January 2022. He helped the Reds reach the Championship play-offs and then go all the way and reach the Premier League by winning them.
Now, The Athletic, claim that the 32-year-old will almost certainly leave the club this summer. They believe that there is no future for Cook at the City Ground, with Steve Cooper viewing several players ahead of him.
The defender has been a wonderful servant to the Reds. Not in longevity but in the work he’s done for the club in such a short space of time on Trentside.
Cook has only actually made 34 appearances for the Reds since arriving. He’s always given his all, however, and without him during the second half of 2021/22, Forest might not have won promotion.
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It’s thought that Cook did turn down the chance to move out on loan during January. Luton and QPR were thought to be keen but nothing materialised and Cook was sidelined.
During his time at Bournemouth, he was praised by Eddie Howe. He spent over 10 years on the south coast and the man who previously managed him called him ‘excellent’.
Cook has no future at Forest
This doesn’t come as a major surprise, it has to be said. Nothing against Cook but Forest didn’t overly miss him when he was omitted from the squad for the second half of 2022/23.
That said, he should walk away with his head held high. Cook will go down as a bit of a cult hero at Forest and his celebrations after Wembley were a thing of beauty!
Cook could comfortably still play in the Championship. He won’t see his career has finished yet by any means and it’s highly fanciful that he gets himself a club for next season.
His Forest days appear to be at an end though. Cook should be remembered fondly for his efforts at the City Ground and there won’t be many doing anything other than wishing him all the very best.