It’s been an extremely difficult period in Joe Lolley’s career recently. For two seasons, Nottingham Forest possessed one of the most dangerous and exciting attacking players in the Championship. However, injuries have dampened the forwards time at the City Ground, but recent appearances have suggested the old Joe may still be there.

During Lolley’s first full season at Forest, the winger registered 11 goals and 11 assists. Only Said Benrahma (Brentford, 14), Pablo Hernandez (Leeds United, 12), Kamil Grosicki (Hull City, 12) and Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City, 12) had more Championship assists than Lolley during the 2018-19 season – all of which have gone on to play in the Premier League since. Lolley’s three shots per game was only bettered by Neal Maupay (Brentford, 3.3), Teemu Pukki (Norwich City, 3.3) and Harvey Barnes (West Bromwich Albion, 3.4), of which all play in the Premier League currently. Lolley also completed the most dribbles in the Championship (2.4) as well as creating the third-most big chances (15).

The following season, Forest spent most of the campaign sat inside the play-off places, with Lolley a key figure in the team. The forward scored nine goals and registered eight assists in 37 starts. Though Lolley was integral to Nottingham Forest during the 2019-20 season, he had started five fewer games than the prior campaign.

It was the season after that, though, which Lolley faced the side-effects of muscle compartment syndrome, contributing one goal and two assists in just 16 irregular starts.

Things hadn’t seemed to improve much this season either for the 29-year-old, having only made nine starts with an average of 44 minutes per game. Lolley had been out injured since November before coming off the bench for eight minutes against Sheffield United at the start of this month.

It was the recent game against Queens Park Rangers that Lolley showed glimpses of his previous form, though. In 11 minutes of football, Lolley had 13 touches and completed one successful dribble, one accurate long ball, one ground duel and it was his dangerous cross that created the corner in which Forest took the lead from. The winger also finished the game with 90% passing accuracy.

It seems Lolley had done enough with those minutes, as Forest boss Steve Cooper rewarded him with a start in the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.

During the 29-year-old’s first start since November, an early driving run led to a classic Lolley move, cutting in on his left foot before striking the ball. His shot went just wide of the post, but a familiar move from the forward will have been a welcome sight to Forest fans. The winger showed plenty of energy throughout the game and posed plenty of threat going forward, as well as a lot of energy in defence. In a game against the former champions of Europe, Lolley made one tackle, three interceptions and one clearance, keeping his team in the game before he was subbed in the 65th minute.

When Forest return to action after international duty, a lot of focus will be on how Forest deal with the injuries to Scott McKenna, Steve Cook and Max Lowe. Nevertheless, it will be important that Joe Lolley continues to get minutes with absentees on the sidelines.

As current Forest captain Joe Worrall has said previously, getting Joe Lolley back to his best will feel like another signing. With a hefty schedule ahead and an important run in that could lead to the play-offs, the Joe Lolley of past seasons would be a big boost to Nottingham Forest.

*Article provided by Callum Castel (Nottingham Forest Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFC Joe Lolley has shown glimpses in recent weeks of returning to his best.