He made a real first impression when he first broke into the Nottingham Forest first-team, but Alex Mighten has struggled to recapture the form that saw him become a first-team regular throughout the 2020/21 season.
The tricky winger featured 24 times under then-boss Chris Hughton, taking many Forest fans by surprise with his pace and desire to beat a man.
Mighten was a shining light in what was a bitterly disappointing season for the Reds as they limped home to a 17th-place finish, just nine points clear of the drop zone.
The arrival of boss Steve Cooper resulted in limited game time for the Forest Academy graduate, as he only registered two starts in the Championship with the rest of his minutes coming from the substitutes bench.
Cooper decided a loan move was best for the 21-year-old ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
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Mighten joined League One promotion chasers Sheffield Wednesday, but once again failed to make a real impact.
The American youngster only managed 14 appearances throughout his six-month stint at Hillsborough with Darren Moore’s side activating a clause in January to terminate the loan, sending him back to the City Ground.
As Mighten had already featured for two English clubs in the same season, he was unable to join another side on loan and often featured for the club’s Under-21 side.
What next for Alex Mighten?
The winger has already featured for the club this pre-season against Notts County and has travelled with the rest of the Forest squad for the warm-weather training camp in Spain.
Nonetheless, it is thought he will head out on loan once more this season to gain more experience. He may not have set the world alight at Wednesday, but he is still more than capable of playing in England’s third tier.
Mighten is entering a crucial stage of his career and it is vital that Forest find the perfect side for him to get regular game time, whilst still improving his all-round game.
A move to a side such as Peterborough or Exeter may prove to be a great fit for the 21-year-old, as they both have a track record of developing and nurturing young, up-and-coming talents.