Nottingham Forest have made a very positive start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, with 19 points from 12 games.
The Reds are seventh in the table and are 11 points clear of the relegation zone at this stage of the season.
That might sound like a negative statement but having narrowly avoided relegation for the last two seasons, it’s clear that progress is being made.
Forest boast a very decent squad this season and there is hope that a battle against relegation can be avoided.
On Saturday, Forest lost to Arsenal and afterwards, fans vented at James Ward-Prowse who didn’t cover himself in glory.
Still, it’s been a positive start to the campaign and there are now options in abundance from the substitutes bench.
Carlos Miguel is the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and West Ham United at the City Ground ...
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo makes big Carlos Miguel claim
The Forest head coach has pledged his allegiance to Matz Sels as his number-one goalkeeper.
Sels has won praise from Joe Hart for his heroics this season but some doubts do remain over his long-term credentials.
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The Belgian also received some credit from World Soccer. Sels was given two nominations for October’s ESM XI which is voted for by European journalists.
Espirito Santo, however, has suggested that he might look to replace him – with Carlos Miguel pushing hard for a chance behind him.
He told ESPN: “First of all, Carlos Miguel is a fantastic person. He’s a big guy, which is important for a goalkeeper. But, he’s humble and knows that he has to work hard and that the opportunity will come one day.
“Unfortunately, we were eliminated on penalties in a game in which he played very well, one of the best on the field.
“But, opportunities are coming and the important thing is that he keeps doing what he does, which is supporting Matz Sels because a goalkeeper’s life is a mini-group within a group and they have to be very united and Carlos is doing that and we are very grateful.”
Miguel will get Forest chance before the season is out
Although fans will always have opinions on whether or not a goalkeeper has made an error, it’s clear that Sels hasn’t made any absolute howlers this season.
There was one that would have been deemed a real error in the game against Liverpool but Sels rescued the situation well.
With that in mind, it must be hard for Miguel to stay positive at the moment but as Espirito Santo explains, his time will come.
With a tough run of fixtures now through until March, Miguel will hope that the gloves will be tossed to him at some point.
The player showed flashes of what he can do in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle and hopefully, he can get another chance in the not so distant future.
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