Sam Byram has been sidelined with a knee injury for the last two months, making just one league appearance since joining Nottingham Forest on loan from West Ham United. The 25-year-old picked up the injury just one month after joining the Reds and may not return until Spring of 2019.
Byram’s injury hasn’t been a blow to Aitor Karanka this season, however, with Saidy Janko signed to provide adequate backup in his stead. The right-back has played second fiddle to the impressive Tendayi Darikwa since joining at the end of August, so why do Forest need to keep Byram?
Karanka should cancel his loan contract as it’s unlikely Byram will make a lot of appearances this season even if he’s fit. The West Ham defender was a clever acquisition given his lack of playing time at the London Stadium, but the Reds have better options available to them.
Byram will have a lack of match fitness when he does eventually recover from his injury, so Karanka isn’t going to start him over the likes of Darikwa or Janko during the tail-end of the season. Forest have two right-backs fighting for one position. They don’t need a third.
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