Diogo Goncalves has endured a forgettable spell at Nottingham Forest since joining the Reds on loan from Benfica last summer, but things could be looking up for the 21-year-old after he made a long-awaited return to the first-team – coming off the bench against Reading on January 12.
Goncalves struggled for form and playing time at the City Ground and looked destined to return to his parent club in January, but he’s been given a lifeline by new manager Martin O’Neill after Gil Dias’ loan move from AS Monaco was cut short – the 22-year-old failed to score or create a goal in 21 league games.
Dias left Forest to join Olympiacos and O’Neill has turned to Goncalves to replace him. There were reports from Portugal on January 17 that said Goncalves could be on the move to Olympiacos, but nothing materialised and he looks set to make a sensational comeback.
The 21-year-old has made just seven appearances in all competitions this season, amassing a paltry 385 minutes of playing time. He’s been in Forest’s last two matchday squads, however, and has reportedly been impressing in training.
Goncalves was in and around the senior squad for the first two months of the season, but he was exiled from the first-team between October and early-January which raised questions about his future. O’Neill wants to give every player a chance to impress and Goncalves has taken the opportunity with both hands.
With Forest struggling for goals of late – failing to score in four of their last five games in all competitions – could Goncalves be the one to get them firing again?
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