When the Nottingham Forest team was announced for the game against Liverpool, it perhaps wasn’t surprising to see Ryan Yates named in the starting eleven.
He’s the type of player who is wanted in the trenches – particularly away from home – and on Saturday he was in the team with the captain’s armband.
One constant that remains is the ongoing debate among fans over whether or not Forest midfielder Yates is up to it at the Premier League level.
However, he does continue to defy the expectations of some of his critics and he proved at the weekend that there is at the very least a role for him on Trentside.
What Ryan Yates did vs Liverpool that highlights his importance
Following the famous win at Anfield, Forest have released a matchday pass video and it showcased something about Yates that suggests he’s perhaps captain material.
It certainly provides an insight into just how much influence the academy graduate has in the Forest dressing room.
As the teams lined up following the handshake at the start of the game, Yates waited for every Forest player to give them a rallying cry and a handshake ahead of kick-off.
It was a nice touch and highlighted that although some perhaps don’t believe he should play when everyone is fit, there is definitely something there with him.
He’s clearly fancied by Nuno Espirito Santo as one of the leaders in his dressing room and typically wears the armband when he plays these days.
Yates can play integral role with Ibrahim Sangare injure
It would appear that the Ivorian star is going to be missing for three months with a hamstring injury and now is the time for Yates to step up to the mantle.
Yates came on and played alongside Sangare during the first game of the season after Danilo suffered a broken ankle and fulfilled the duties of a box-to-box player.
Now, however, he can go back to being the midfield terrier as Espirito Santo looks for a player to replace the number of tackles that Sangare has been making this season.
Yates clearly has the respect of the Forest dressing room. The 26-year-old always gives his all and he does continue to prove people wrong.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 5 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| 6 |  BrightonBrighton | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 7 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 8 |  ChelseaChelsea | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 9 |  BrentfordBrentford | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
There are still flaws in his game. Luis Diaz hit the post on Saturday after some poor defensive work from Yates and he needs to stop making those kinds of errors.
However, there is definitely a role for him in this squad and what he did before the game highlighted why he’s so well respected within the dressing room.
It will be fascinating to see what kind of role Yates does play this season. With Danilo and Sangare on the treatment table, the captain does have a serious chance to enjoy a run in the team and it’s up to his to take it.
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