Nigel Adkins admitted he “wanted to keep” Michael Dawson at Hull City over the summer and showered the centre-back in praise before Nottingham Forest beat the Tigers 2-0 on Saturday afternoon. Dawson left Hull to return to the City Ground ahead of the new season and has been a key player for Aitor Karanka in recent weeks.
Adkins lamented his departure, saying to the Hull Daily Mail: “Michael was excellent last season. I wanted to keep him, I said that all the way through. He’s a really good professional, a really good captain and a leader. I’ve got a lot of time for Michael, a lot of respect. He worked extremely hard for the time I was here.”
Dawson has made 11 appearances in all competitions for Forest since his return, featuring in seven of the Reds’ last eight Championship outings. In this time, Karanka’s men have picked up four wins and three draws for their troubles. The 35-year-old has helped Forest pick up three consecutive clean sheets and has been captain since late-October.
His career started with the Midlands outfit, with the England international making 84 appearances in all competitions between 2002 and 2005 before Tottenham came knocking. Dawson spent nine years at White Hart Lane, playing in well over 300 games before his eventual departure.
The centre-back brings a wealth of experience to the Forest defence and Karanka’s decision to recall him is paying dividends. Dawson wasn’t in the side earlier in the campaign, making just one appearance between August and the end of September, but he’s one of the first names on the teamsheet now.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Aitor Karanka will bring 22-year-old back to Nottingham Forest next summer – opinion
