Tyler Walker has been in fine form on loan at Mansfield Town this season, scoring 19 goals in 38 League Two games, and may have given Martin O’Neill a lot to think about ahead of next season. Paul Taylor of Nottinghamshire Live revealed that the Nottingham Forest striker has a future at the City Ground and “will be given a chance” under O’Neill to impress.
Walker has risen through the youth ranks to the fringes of the Forest first-team, making 38 appearances in all competitions, contributing eight goals. The 22-year-old embarked upon loan moves to Burton Albion (six appearances, one goal), Stevenage FC (nine appearances, four goals), Port Vale (six appearances, two goals) and Bolton Wanderers (five appearances, zero goals) before his Mansfield switch which could be the turning point in his career.
The striker’s last outing for Forest came nearly 18 months ago against Arsenal in the FA Cup. He played 34 minutes in a 4-2 win at the City Ground and didn’t feature again. That could change next season, however, as Taylor is tipping the youngster to be in and around the first-team. O’Neill wants to give opportunities to the club’s hottest prospects and Walker can hardly do more to prove his case.
Taylor said: “Tyler Walker is another young player that O’Neill is understood to think a lot of. He has done very well at Mansfield – this season will have done him the world of good, both in terms of confidence and simple football education. Told that he will very much be given a chance to shine in the summer. The plan, apparently, is very much to see what he can do, within the squad.”
Mansfield are fourth in League Two with six games to go. The club are two points adrift of automatic promotion but nine points clear of eighth place. Promotion would be the icing on the cake for Walker.
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