Nottingham Forest secured a crucial victory against Manchester City at the City Ground, significantly improving their chances of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s team achieved their 15th league win of the season, distancing themselves four points from Pep Guardiola’s side in their unexpected pursuit of a Champions League spot.
Morgan Gibbs-White delivered another assist in what has been an outstanding season for the Englishman, bringing his total to 11 goals and assists combined in the top division in 2024/25.
His impressive form has brought him into consideration for the England squad under manager Thomas Tuchel, potentially earning him a call-up for the upcoming international break.
Another first-team player has also been showcasing his talent at the City Ground and could potentially join Gibbs-White in the national team setup soon.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s Stats for Forest in 2024/25
Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has proven to be an incredible bargain. He joined Forest for just £3 million in the summer of 2023, revitalizing his promising career in the East Midlands.
The 24-year-old scored eight goals and provided two assists in his first season at the club. He has already scored five goals this season, including the winning goal against the reigning champions.
His late goal secured all three points, marking his third goal in his last five league appearances and playing a crucial role in their top-four ambition.
Hudson-Odoi was unlucky not to score earlier in the match, as City goalkeeper Ederson made a brilliant save to deny him.
Despite his recent goalscoring form, another player, who has flourished since leaving Forest a few years ago, has actually outscored him this season.
The Former Forest Star Who Has Outscored Hudson-Odoi in 2024/25
After being promoted to the Premier League in 2022/23, Nottingham Forest made headlines with numerous signings, bringing in 22 new players to the club.
These additions were necessary as many key players from their 2021/22 promotion season were on loan and subsequently left.
Other first-team players also departed, including Joe Lolley, who was released on a free transfer to join Sydney FC in Australia, ending his four-and-a-half-year tenure in the East Midlands.
The winger became a fan favorite at the City Ground, known for his ability to cut inside from the right and score with his left foot.
The 32-year-old scored 26 goals in 171 appearances for Forest, exceeding expectations after his £500k move from Huddersfield Town in January 2018.
| Season | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 16 | 3 | 3 |
| 2018/19 | 51 | 12 | 11 |
| 2019/20 | 44 | 10 | 8 |
| 2020/21 | 30 | 1 | 3 |
| 2021/22 | 30 | 0 | 1 |
| Total: | 171 | 26 | 26 |
His move to Australia has allowed Lolley to rediscover his goalscoring touch, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in 24 appearances. He has outscored Hudson-Odoi this season and is helping his team compete for a qualification spot in the A-League.
It’s great to see Lolley thriving again after his successful time at Nottingham Forest, consistently demonstrating the quality he is known for.
Ultimately, he became a casualty of the club’s rapid progress under Steve Cooper. However, considering the current quality in the squad, including players like Hudson-Odoi, letting Lolley leave to showcase his talents elsewhere was probably the right decision.
Vihaan Mehrotra