Sign up NOW for the latest Reds news and views direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Nottingham Forest added to their options in the centre of the pitch this week, with the signing of two midfielders in as many days.

Former Olympiacos man Panagiotis Tachtsidis was first through the door, on Wednesday, followed 24 hours later by ex-West Brom ace Claudio Yacob; both putting pen to paper on two-year deals and taking the Reds’ total tally of summer additions up to 16.

Their arrivals came after something of a mixed start to the season by Aitor Karanka’s men, with the partnership of Ben Watson and Jack Colback having come in for some criticism from fans following last Saturday’s defeat at Brentford.

Karanka has said his latest two additions are not a reflection of how his team have fared so far in the Championship – or a reflection on the players he already has in his squad.

But they will leave the manager with a selection headache when the league action resumes next weekend at Swansea City.

We take a look at the seven players – and their different qualities – fighting it out for the two holding midfield spots in Karanka’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

Claudio Yacob

Leadership and character were the two standout traits Karanka identified in his latest recruit.

“He is a good player and would help with the balance of the team, and, in the changing room, he could be important,” said the Spaniard just before the 31-year-old’s move was announced.

It is his no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners approach – and his love of a crunching tackle – which won Yacob plenty of fans while he was at West Brom.

Indeed, the reaction of Baggies supporters to his departure and subsequent signing for Forest shows the esteem in which he was held there.

Yacob is someone who will lead by example as well as being prepared to let his team-mates know if they are not doing their jobs.

Not one for getting forward, particularly, but he can win the ball and then leave the attacking to others who are more suited to doing just that.

Panagiotis Tachtsidis

Like Yacob, the Greece international joined the Reds as a free agent, having had his contract at Olympiacos terminated.

But that is where similarities between the two players end.

Predominantly left-footed, Tachtsidis is very much a play-maker, someone who can drive his team forward by picking a pass or pushing on himself. He’s not exactly known for finding the back of the net, however, with just a handful of goals to his name during his professional career.

He will, though, bring a physical presence with his 6ft 4in frame and he is also not afraid of letting the opposition know he is there – given he has a penchant for picking up the odd yellow card.

At 27 he has plenty of experience, with the likes of AEK Athens, Genoa and Roma among his former clubs and he went to the 2014 World Cup with his country.

“He brings experience, he brings size, because he is a strong player and a different kind of player to what we have in the squad,” Karanka said.

(Image: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images)

Ben Watson

The Forest skipper has featured six times so far this season. However, it’s fair to say the 33-year-old hasn’t quite yet hit his stride.

Much like the Reds as a whole, Watson has been somewhat inconsistent.

His performance in the 2-2 draw with Birmingham City was perhaps the low point, but there was an improvement in the following game against Newcastle United.

When he’s on form, the ex-Watford man can be a key player for Karanka, helping to break up opposition play and providing added protection for the back line.

He isn’t exactly the type to go rampaging forward or add a creative spark, but Forest have others in the team to fulfil that role.

Jack Colback

Talk of his future, and whether he would return to the City Ground, dragged on throughout the summer, before a season-long loan move from Newcastle United was finally confirmed.

Much like Watson, though, Colback has yet to really get going.

The duo formed an effective partnership last season, helping the Reds look much more solid. This time around, though, they seem to be struggling to replicate that – and plenty of fans argued on social media that the two should not play together again, after last weekend’s defeat at Brentford.

They are indeed both similar players, but showed last term that they are capable of working in tandem. For whatever reason, it’s not happened yet, however.

(Image: PA)

Adlene Guedioura

The game against West Brom was the best demonstration of what the Algerian has to offer when he’s at the top of his game, with the 32-year-old taking plenty of plaudits for his all-action display.

Guedioura brings dynamism to Forest’s play; a drive and energy which puts the opposition on the back foot.

Not afraid to have a shot from anywhere on the pitch, he is capable of scoring the odd rocket and has a good range of passing.

The Reds have missed him while he has been sidelined with a fractured cheekbone.

Liam Bridcutt

With just one appearance this term to date, in the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle, Bridcutt’s name seems to be the one most mentioned by fans as deserving of a starting place.

The 29-year-old did well against the Magpies.

Although he looked a little rusty early on due to a lack of game time, he was his usual busy self throughout.

With a good all-round game, the former Leeds United midfielder is capable of pushing forward and also works hard to win the ball back for his team.

Has found his opportunities limited so far, though.

Ryan Yates

Made his debut for the Reds last month, in the League Cup victory over Bury, having impressed on loan at Notts County and Scunthorpe United last term.

Yates was influential for both sides, in League Two and then making the step up to League One, helping the Iron reach the play-offs as he stamped his authority on games.

(Image: JMS Photography)

Despite being just 20, he was a lynchpin in the centre of the park and also weighed in on the goal front, with eight to his name from 47 appearances last season.

He is highly-regarded at the City Ground and there was interest in him in the summer, but Karanka opted to keep him at Forest.

“In the end, the right club and the right offer did not arrive,” said the manager. “And we decided it was better for him to stay here and train with us, rather than going to the wrong place.”

Lack of Championship experience has pushed him down the pecking order, but his time will surely come eventually.

Special mention too, to Ben Osborn , who could also be in contention for the deeper midfield role.

The 24-year-old has all the tools to do a job there, but with such a wealth of options at Karanka’s disposal, seems more likely to be deployed elsewhere.