Opinion: Midfielder has uncertain future at Nottingham Forest, Martin O’Neill should sell him

Ben Watson may have an uncertain future at Nottingham Forest this summer after struggling for form and playing time under Martin O’Neill. Watson made only 17 Championship appearances last season and spent the last month as an unused substitute or out of the matchday squad entirely.

The 33-year-old has 12 months remaining on his contract at the City Ground but may be surplus to requirements in 2019/20 due to the stiff competition for places. Watson failed to make a Championship appearance between mid-October and mid-January and only featured twice for Forest in the last 12 weeks.

With Adlene Guedioura, Claudio Yacob, Ryan Yates and the possibility of bringing Jack Colback back next season, Watson may find himself on the periphery. Forest should strengthen in midfield over the summer too which would further diminish the 33-year-old’s chances of getting first-team football.

Whether Watson will have many suitors remains to be seen, but he’s had periods out of the squad under both Aitor Karanka and O’Neill and may be better off being sold. Forest have better players in his position that have a future in the East Midlands, so the experienced midfielder should be let go.

Crippy Cooke’s previous article