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Nottingham Forest currently have eight players out on loan – but some of them are hardly playing for their current clubs.

Some may not have a future with Forest, but others will have been dispatched to get valuable game time they would not otherwise have had at the City Ground, in order to prove that they could become key men in the long-term.

Here the Post looks at those who are currently with other teams, assesses how their loans have panned out and what the future may hold for them.

Tyler Walker

Club: Bolton

Appearances: Five

Goals: None

(Image: Getty)

The 21-year-old started the season well with Forest and was threatening to becoming a regular at one stage under Mark Warburton. However, Aitor Karanka let him go to Bolton, no doubt in the hope he would get regular football.

That has not happened though as the striker has started just three games and played only 196 minutes of football. He was not involved in their draw against Barnsley at the weekend and recently played for Wanderers’ Under-23s.

Nonetheless, he remains a bright prospect for Forest given he has pace and is capable of playing through the middle and out wide. It was only in November that he signed a new contract until 2021.

Zach Clough

Club: Bolton

Appearances: Eight

Goals: 1

(Image: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)

Clough was the main victim of Kieran Dowell’s excellent form in the first half of the season as he missed out on the chance to play in the number 10 role.

A loan move back to his former club, where he was a huge fan favourite, could have reignited his season, but like Walker, he has struggled to make an impact at Bolton.

The 23-year-old forward has only played for 226 minutes since January and he too played for the Under-23s alongside Walker.

The £3m signing should not be written off as a Forest player though. He is less than 18 months into a four-and-a-half-year contract and made a good impression in the second half of last season when he initially came to the East Midlands.

Much will depend on what happens with Dowell and Lee Tomlin next season and whether they return for a second loan stint in Nottingham.

Jamie Ward

Club: Cardiff

Appearances: Two

Goals: None

(Image: Getty)

The Northern Ireland international is on loan at Cardiff until the end of the season as they look to secure promotion to the Premier Leauge.

However, he has featured only twice since moving to Wales in January – and those appearances add up to just 15 minutes of football.

His lack of action was largely down to a groin injury but, having returned to fitness in the last few weeks, Ward will hope to be involved more - although he won't be permitted to face his parent club this weekend.

He still has one year left on his deal having joined Forest on a four-year contract from Derby in 2015. An industrious, fully committed player, he could well leave the City Ground on a permanent basis this summer.

Armand Traore

Club: Cardiff

Appearances: Four

Goals: One

(Image: Mark Kerton/PA Archive/PA Images)

The left-back was set to leave Forest for Cardiff on a permanent deal in January with his contract set to be terminated by mutual consent.

However, that did not happen and he agreed a loan move until the end of the season. Still has one year to run on the three-year deal Forest handed him when he signed from QPR.

Would be no surprise if he left at the end of the season despite playing 19 times for Forest in the first half of this season.

Jason Cummings

Club: Rangers

Appearances: 14

Goals: Five

(Image: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Cummings made a good start to his Forest career since his summer move from Hibernian with four goals in his first 10 appearnances.

His last goal came in late September and he was the first player to be allowed to leave by Karanka, returning to Scotland until the end of the season.

He might well be keen to stay at Ibrox, but it is uncertain who the manager will be next season - and whether he will want the Scotland international.

If not, the 22-year-old will face a huge fight to get back in at Forest, with the Reds likely to sign attacking players this summer.

Jorge Grant

Club: Notts County

Appearances: 51

Goals: 18

(Image: Joseph Raynor)

The midfielder signed a three contract last summer before joining Notts County on a season-long loan.

He has brilliant for the majority of the season playing a key role as the Magpies moved to the brink of securing a place in the play-offs.

This summer is likely to be a big one for him though as at the age of 23, it will eventually be a case of now or never if he is to become a regular at Forest.

Ryan Yates

Club: Scunthorpe

Appearances: 12

Goals: 1

(Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)

Yates scored six goals in 29 games during an excellent loan spell with Notts County in the opening months of the season.

It was perhaps no coincidence their form dipped when he joining Scunthorpe for the rest of the campaign in January after signing a new contract with Forest.

Has established himself as a key man for the League One side. It would be no surprise if they wanted him next season.

Another loan spell in the third tier is probably the most likely scenario in 2018/19.

Thomas Lam

Club: FC Twente

Appearances: 28

Goals: Three

Lam has been a regular for the Dutch Eredivisie club since joining them on a season-long loan last summer.

He still has another year left on his three-year deal but it is hard to believe he has a future under Karanka.

A regular under Philippe Montanier when he joined the club, the Finland international said he was unfairly treated when he drifted out of the picture under first Gary Brazil and then Mark Warburton.