Nottingham Forest have let a number of players go over the years after they were unearthed through their own academy.
The likes of Matty Cash, Ben Osborn and more recently, Brennan Johnson have all departed for big sums of money after stepping up from the club’s academy ranks.
Ryan Yates and Zach Abbott are the two players currently in or around the first team under Ange Postecoglou, whilst others have left and not really made their mark elsewhere.
One player filed under that category is Oliver Burke.
Oliver Burke makes history in Bundesliga match
Since leaving Forest in a deal worth £13 million back in 2016, Burke has enjoyed something of a nomadic career.
It’s fair to say that he’s hardly pulled up any trees anywhere since departing the City Ground and he’s struggled to put down any roots.
Burke’s departure rocked Forest at a time when the club’s supporters were furious with Fawaz Al-Hasawi and were protesting to get him away from the club.
Now, almost 10 years later, Burke has walked through uncharted territory as the first Scottish player to score a hat-trick in the Bundesliga.
The feat was achieved during a 4-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday afternoon, with the result lifting the team up to 10th in the table.
Burke signed for the club in the summer and has now showcased the quality he possesses to his new employers.
What could have been for Burke at Forest
Of all the academy players to leave the City Ground, Burke’s hit the fans the hardest.
At the time, Forest were struggling, and after beating Leeds 3-1, the instrumental Burke was sold completely out of the blue to completely extinguish any excitement for the season ahead.
Burke’s career has been somewhat underwhelming since he left and he may look back on the decision for Forest to sell him as the wrong one.
The forward has spent time with RB Leipzig, Werder Bremen, Sheffield United, Birmingham, West Brom, Alaves, Celtic and Millwall since leaving.
Hopefully, Union Berlin is now the club for him to finally settle and kick on.
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