Nottingham Forest defender Moussa Niakhate has been named in EAFC’s Team of the Week after his display against Aston Villa.
The 27-year-old won four tackles, five duels and made eight clearances as he was awarded the Premier League’s Man of the Match award.
Niakhate also made 17 passes out from the back, showcasing his ball-playing abilities despite playing on his unfavoured side of defence.
Steve Cooper opted to utilise a partnership of Niakhate and Murillo at the centre of defence, with the Reds boss leaving out Willy Boly.
READ: 28-year-old grasps latest Nottingham Forest chance and Cooper must keep picking him
A brilliant display from Niakhate once again
For the majority of the campaign, Murillo and Boly have been Cooper’s first-choice centre-backs, with the pair impressing on multiple occasions.
However, Cooper’s decision to include the 27-year-old was a brilliant piece of management.
Niakhate neutralised the threat of dangerous forward Ollie Watkins as he helped preserve the Reds’ third clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
His display earned him the Premier League’s Man of the Match award and a place in EAFC’s TOTW alongside the likes of Jeremy Doku and Ousmane Dembele.
A performance that will give Cooper a headache
Since his arrival, the 27-year-old has struggled with injuries with the defender failing to get a real run of games under his belt.
Sunday’s display gave Forest fans a potential insight into what could be a long and successful centre-back pairing of Murillo and Niakhate.
Niakhate’s latest display will certainly have given Cooper another defensive headache between the Senegalese man and the experienced Boly.
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