Nottingham Forest had just survived by the skin of their teeth in the 2016/17 season, remaining in the Championship by one goal.

That summer, a rebuilding process was underway to make sure Forest were not in a relegation scrap once more after avoiding a scare.

Mark Warburton came in and kept them up and looked to build a side in his image during his first transfer window in charge at the City Ground.

On August 22, 2017, Liam Bridcutt was signed from Leeds United on a three-year deal for a fee reported to be in the region of £1million having already played one game for United in the EFL Cup.

???? #NFFC are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Liam Bridcutt for an undisclosed fee. https://t.co/HbS86UiEDF pic.twitter.com/x0vmOYCe7h — Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) August 22, 2017

After the confirmation of the latest addition at Nottingham Forest, fans received the signing will, with a favourable response to the incoming transfer of Bridcutt from divisional rivals Leeds.

Great signing… Welcome to the club! #nffc — Michelle Palagano (@Shellby1978) August 22, 2017

Bit of grit in our midfield now. Welcome to the super reds Liam. — Donal King (@theredbarron69) August 22, 2017

Bridcutt was coming off the back of 25 appearances during his last season at Elland Road, hoping to be more of an important first-team player at the City Ground.

He was booked on his debut, against his former club, and featured heavily under Warburton.

After 20 appearances in his debut season at Forest, on New Year’s Eve, the man who brought him to the cub was sacked.

Gary Brazil filled in as caretaker before the permanent appointment of Aitor Karanka.

And after that, his run in the side became less frequent.

The turn of the year saw Bridcutt manage only eight appearances due to injury.

Upon his second game returning, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 2-1 away defeat to Cardiff City.

One more booking in the final day defeat to Bolton that year would round off a relativity successful season for the player despite Forest’s 13th place finish.

But the promise shown the year before would hold no significance in Forest’s summer transfer activity in the window just gone.

No less than 16 players came in, with a plethora of midfield options that has seen Bridcutt’s place in the side have serious doubt cast over it.

This has since been proven with the 29-year-old supremely out of favour under Karanka.

He has made just three appearances this season, two in the League Cup and one in the Championship – the September 22 win 1-0 against Rotherham United.

The first year might have been decent for Bridcutt but this term he has his work cut out to feature for Karanka and earn a place in the side.

After the initial positive reaction, this transfer has not panned out as fans would have liked with a new manager imparting his ideas on a bunch of players, with Bridcutt seemingly a casualty of this.