Lewis O’Brien is set to return to Nottingham Forest from his loan spell at MLS side, LAFC, joining back up with a Forest side that has improved dramatically since his departure.
O’Brien featured for Forest in pre-season under Nuno Espirito Santo but Elliot Anderson’s arrival from Newcastle United saw less space available in the Forest midfield.
The Englishman was set for another loan, then, with LAFC showing interest in O’Brien before eventually taking him on loan until December.
O’Brien made the MLS Team of the Week in what was a productive spell in Los Angeles but Forest’s incredible European charge in the Premier League means that O’Brien will rejoin a Forest squad that feels vastly different to the one he left.
This difference has led to Evangelos Marinakis making a swift decision on O’Brien’s future at the City Ground, one that could be enacted in the January transfer window.
Lewis O’Brien set for another loan away from Nottingham Forest
A report by Sky Sports that detailed every Premier League side’s January plans revealed that Forest are set to look for another temporary solution to O’Brien’s future.
The report said: “Lewis O’Brien officially returns to the club following the end of his loan at MLS club LAFC, and is likely to be loaned back out elsewhere.”
It comes as no surprise that O’Brien isn’t required by Espirito Santo, given the form of Anderson, Ryan Yates and even Morgan Gibbs-White who has impressed in a deeper position.
Alan Shearer praised Anderson for his impact since arriving at Forest, making O’Brien an afterthought at the City Ground, but there is logic in keeping hold of the Englishman if Forest are to qualify for European football next season.
Lewis O’Brien could still be useful to Nottingham Forest
O’Brien’s ability has never been an issue for him at Forest and he can count himself unlucky that circumstances have led to him being cast aside. Michael Carrick praised O’Brien when he had him on loan at Middlesbrough, with the Forest man still potentially having something to offer.
If Espirito Santo’s side are to qualify for European football this season, they will have an extra set of matches to play that will of course require the full squad to play a role.
More importantly for O’Brien, though, European competitions have strict registration rules that could see an English talent such as the midfielder be of higher value to Forest.
Whilst the lack of clarity associated with another loan move may be frustrating for O’Brien, the potential success of his parent side this season could see him trusted with a more important role by the Forest coaching staff.
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