With 2023 nearly consigned to the history books, Nottingham Forest can look back at some high points – and some low. The Reds secured their Premier League survival back in May but this season has been a little underwhelming.
The Reds defeated Arsenal back in May to ensure that they would survive relegation in the top-flight. Leeds, Leicester and Southampton instead suffered the humiliation of dropping out of the Premier League.
Big wins came against Southampton, Brighton and Arsenal towards the end of last season. Forest also beat Leeds and Leicester in entertaining games on home soil during 2023.
With the year almost at an end, we’ve decided to look back at some of the highs and have picked out our three best Forest players during the year of 2023.
The 3 best Nottingham Forest players of 2023
Taiwo Awoniyi
The striker has proved a very decent piece of business for the Reds. Awoniyi was the first player signed after promotion to the Premier League, costing the club £17.5 million.
Last season, he scored 11 times as the Reds secured their Premier League survival. During the 2023/24 campaign, he opened up with three goals in three consecutive games and has four for the season.
Awoniyi is a somewhat unorthodox striker but his uncompromising style makes him an integral part of the team and given that he’s currently injured, he’s been sorely missed.
Ryan Yates
The midfielder probably just gets in here ahead of his midfield teammate Orel Mangala. With the Belgian somewhat inconsistent last season, we’ve included Yates for his form at the end of last season.
The 26-year-old missed six games with a shoulder problem in January and the Reds won just one of those games. His return sparked a run of two wins and two draws in five games that ultimately kept Forest up.
Yates is a consistent performer in the heart of the Forest midfield and he always gives his all. Hopefully, he can keep his place in the team now and start to show even more quality.
Morgan Gibbs-White
Much like Yates, Gibbs-White gets in for his form at the end of last season. He grew across the campaign as a player and the 23-year-old is vitally important to Steve Cooper.
Last season, Gibbs-White scored five goals and claimed eight assists for the Reds. Three goals and three assists came during the final seven games of the season as Forest ensured survival.
The 2023/24 campaign has been a struggle for Gibbs-White. He’s been tossed out on the wing on several occasions and that has stifled his impact in the Forest team.
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