Nottingham Forest’s players have been in action all throughout the international break, and Nikola Milenkovic is away with Serbia.
The rise of the Serbian has been exceptional. Last season for Nottingham Forest, he was one of the most important players in the team,
Gary Neville said Milenkovic was the signing of the season last campaign, which is high praise considering the amount of money Premier League teams spend.
There was more praise across the football world last season with Troy Deeney saying the Serb was the best centre-back in the Premier League.
This season his performance levels have remained the same, as Milenkovic impressed against Crystal Palace in the 1-1 draw.
The defender has seemingly taken that form into his national team, and here is what the Serbian media has been saying.
Nikola Milenkovic in action for Serbia
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Serbia picked up a 1-0 win against Latvia in World Cup qualifiers on Saturday afternoon thanks to a Dusan Vlahovic goal.
While Latvia rarely threatened, Nikola Milenkovic and Serbia still had to perform to hold on to their slim lead, and the Forest defender did exactly that, and has received praise from the media.
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Serbian outlet Zurnal gave him a 7.5/10, saying ‘Excellent again. Commander of the defence. Prevented the ball from entering our net after hitting the post in stoppage time.’
Additionally, publication Mozzartsports awarded Milenkovic a 7/10 and said, ‘He had the task of staying last in front of the goalkeeper when the others were moving forward and he did all that work on foot, without any tense situations.’
‘And then, when the end was awaited, overly casual Serbia almost spilled everything. Milenkovic first reacted with his head at the corner of Latvia, and then, at a critical moment after the post, he moved the ball away from the goal line.’
Outlet Sportklub also gave him a 7/10, saying, ‘It seemed like just an easy training for the commander of the Serbian defence before the real duel with the English, but then – serious work in the 92nd minute. He kept his composure, was faster than his rivals near the net and eliminated a definite danger.’
Milenkovic will have a much harder task on Tuesday night when Serbia face England. He could come up against his Nottingham Forest teammates, Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Nikola Milenkovic in action for Serbia
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nikola Milenkovic form is a major boost for Nottingham Forest
There is no doubt that Milenkovic is a top-quality central defender, and with European fixtures on the horizon, having him in this kind of form is a big boost.
His first game for Nottingham Forest after the internationals is away at Arsenal. With players such as Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres, he’ll need to produce another top-level performance.
Additionally, another Arsenal attacker will have eyes on a Forest player as Noni Madueke heaped praise onto Elliot Anderson following his England debut.
Before the players return to Wilford Lane, Milenkovic will also have to keep his teammate Anderson quiet as well when Serbia host England.