Aitor Karanka could reconsider loan decision for Nottingham Forest outcast – opinion

Aitor Karanka recently said Ryan Yates would be loaned out in January with the Nottingham Forest midfielder having interest from League One high-flyers Portsmouth, but he may reconsider that decision given his lack of trustworthy alternatives in the engine room.

Jack Colback and Claudio Yacob have formed a formidable midfield partnership this season, but Forest can’t cope with only one of the aforementioned duo in the side. Adlene Guedioura struggled when called upon by Karanka and may not feature too much in the second-half of the season, so Yates be given a chance.

The 21-year-old still has Ben Watson and Liam Bridcutt also standing in his way, but both players have barely made the matchday squad of late so Yates doesn’t have a better opportunity to get himself back in the reckoning. The midfielder has only made one appearance at senior level, but that came earlier this season – against Bury on August 14.

He was considered good enough for a run out in the first-team a few months ago, so he can’t be too far away. If Karanka loses faith in Guedioura, Yates might have a slim opportunity to fill the gap.

Crippy Cooke’s previous article