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Opinion: Striker could join Nottingham Forest first-team next season

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Apostolos Vellios could have an uncertain future at Nottingham Forest after returning from a loan spell at Waasland-Beveren. The Jupiler Pro League club had the option to turn his move permanent this summer but opted against doing so. Whether Vellios can return to the Forest first-team remains to be seen, however.

The 27-year-old has fallen down the pecking order in the last two years, racking up only 359 minutes of Championship football since the summer of 2017, which led to him moving to Belgium for a year. Vellios has gone on to make 19 appearances in all competitions for Waasland-Beveren, scoring just four goals.

He fell out of favour in Belgium which could see him at a crossroads in his career, but the striker appears to be confident of making a return to Forest. Vellios recently posted on Instagram: “Can’t wait to wear my red jersey again. See you in June ????⚪️ @officialnffc”

The Greek international has made 45 appearances in all competitions since joining from Iraklis in 2016, scoring and creating eight goals. Vellios’ last outing for the Reds came against Bolton Wanderers on May 6, 2018 and he’s scored only one league goal for Forest since 2016.

Lewis Grabban, Karim Ansarifard and Hillal Soudani are ahead of Vellios in the pecking order, evidenced by the latter being loaned out last summer, but Martin O’Neill may give him a chance to prove his worth in pre-season. Time will tell.

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.