Michael Carrick has said that his decision to tweak the position of Nottingham Forest loanee Lewis O’Brien. Middlesbrough remain winless after a 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers yesterday.
The 24-year-old signed for Boro ahead of the transfer deadline after falling down the Forest pecking order. He spent the second half of last season on loan with D.C. United and doesn’t look to have a future at the City Ground.
O’Brien is looking to revive his career after a pretty miserable time of things at Forest. He signed for the Reds in the summer of 2022, costing £10 million from Huddersfield Town.
Yesterday, he was handed a start by Boro boss Carrick. He opted to play him in an unusual position and following injuries, O’Brien actually finished the game playing at left-back!
He told Teesside Live: “We wanted to put Lewis in. We believe he suits playing as an attacking midfielder, but there was also the thought of him helping us try and be a bit more slid and then grow into the game.
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“It probably didn’t prove to be the case really. Although we did grow into the game more second half, that wasn’t down to Lewis. But the decision to put him there was a little tweak really and nothing major.”
Carrick explains the thought process on Forest-owned O’Brien
This is intriguing, to say the least. Forest utilised him in a deeper lying role, although he did try his best to get forward whenever he could to help and assist with attacks.
It really is a bit of a shame that Forest haven’t been able to do more with O’Brien. His City Ground days look to be numbered and it seems certain that a permanent move will be on the cards at some point.
The player is a good character and he’s perhaps fallen foul of just not quite being as good as other options at Forest. There is a good player in there though and it will be interesting to see what the future holds.