Nottingham Forest are in the midst of a season to remember, and with six games to go, European football is still firmly in the hands of the Reds.
Forest dropped to fourth in the Premier League table last night as Newcastle won their game in hand over Crystal Palace, but there is still genuine hope of a finish in the Champions League places this season.
The Reds have a number of reasons to be cheerful when looking back on 2024/25. Nuno Espirito Santo has benefited from a full pre-season with his players and a recruitment model that prioritised quality over quantity.
Some seriously good signings were made by Forest in the summer transfer window. Evangelos Marinakis wanted a striker but didn’t get one, but that provided the only blemish on an otherwise brilliant window.
Nikola Milenkovic on par with Arsenal star William Saliba in one area
The signing of Milenkovic has really caught the eye this season. Forest have improved the defensive side of their game considerably this term, with the Serbian helping the team considerably with his prowess in the air.
It’s clear, based on watching Milenkovic, that his leadership skills across the defensive unit are unrivalled, but now, some statistics have come to light that truly back up his brilliance.
The 27-year-old has been impressive when it comes to aerial challenges all season, and now Squawka has confirmed that he’s right up there with Arsenal star William Saliba when it comes to headers won over 2024/25.
Only three players in the Premier League have contested 40 or more aerial duels and won 75% or more of them, with Jan Bednarek joining Arsenal star Saliba and Milenkovic on the list.
It reiterates just how brilliant Milenkovic has been this season and showcases that, from a defensive perspective, he’s probably proven himself as the missing piece of the jigsaw.
Nikola Milenkovic stats 2024/25
It’s not just in the air where Milenkovic has starred this season and he’s largely been brilliant whenever he’s been called upon for the Reds, striking up a strong relationship with Murillo.
Forest did brilliantly to identify him as a top target in the summer. At just £12 million, he’s proved a real steal and some other clubs must be wondering why they didn’t make a swoop for his services.
Milenkovic feels like a real leader of men out on the pitch. He can often be seen as the one giving instructions at set-pieces and it’s fair to say that he may captain the team in the future.
The talented defender could play an instrumental part between now and the end of the season, with European football something which he will be keen to be a part of again next season on Trentside.
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