Surridge Has Opportunity To Flourish In Red

With Lyle Taylor on loan at Birmingham City, Grabban hobbling off at Cardiff and Keinan Davis recovering from an illness, it was clear to see that a striking reinforcement was required at Nottingham Forest.

Sam Surridge arrives at the City Ground from Stoke City for a fee believed to be around £2 million.

With only 35 appearances for Bournemouth and loan spells away from the south coast between 2015 – 2020, Surridge moved to Stoke City in the summer for a fee believed to be £5.5 million.

However, the move hasn’t worked out with the 23-year-old only making nine starts in all competitions. Four goals and one assist, though, can only suggest that the forward isn’t shy of making the most of his starts.

The Slough native has also represented England at under-21 level, harbouring international experience and proving that he has the potential to make it far in his career.

Forest boss Steve Cooper is said to be a ‘huge admirer’ of the striker and has managed him during a loan spell at Swansea City. Surridge made 23 appearances in all competitions under Cooper with ten starts and seven goals.

In fact, when at Swansea, Steve Cooper once admitted that Surridge would often give the Welshman a selection headache.

“I think most of the players who have not played as much as they would like are knocking on the door,” he said.

“There is no doubt about that, and Sam is showing when we call upon him that he is ready, not just when he has started in the cup but when he has come as a sub too.

“We know he has not come here to be a sub, and we do not look at him as a sub. It’s just the team we are picking at the moment.

“We are very happy with the two strikers at the moment, and we have other players who can play there as well.

“So, is he doing enough? He is, and I am sure some more starts will not be that far away.”

Upon Surridge’s arrival, Steve Cooper announced that he is ‘delighted’ with the transfer.

“We’re delighted that Sam has joined us. He’s a player I’ve worked with before, so I know his attributes both as a player and as a person.

“I believe he can excel in the Championship and in the way that we play.”

Surridge himself expressed his excitement at the fact that he has signed for the Reds.

“I want a home. I want to be somewhere I’m loved, and I feel like with the manager here and the club’s size, it’s everything I want. I jumped at the opportunity so I’m just really happy.”

Though Surridge has been short on starts throughout his career and isn’t blessed with the best goal record, it would be unnecessary to write the youngster off after seeing what has happened with the likes of Djed Spence and Keinan Davis.

On deadline day in the summer, Djed Spence’s arrival left many fans confused as to why Forest would have to loan a player on the fringes of a team in the same division. Fast forward to January and fans’ prayers were answered when it was announced that the right-back would remain at the City Ground until the end of the season.

As for Keinan Davis – many fans were distressed with the fact that the forward had only scored three goals in 73 appearances for Aston Villa. Nevertheless, since arriving in Nottingham, Davis has scored two goals in three starts for Forest.

A move to a new club, under a different manager, with different players and playing style can suit a player and unlock their ability. Consistent playing time at Nottingham Forest could see the youngster improve drastically and Forest may have landed themselves a player that has gone under the radar, ready to thrive.

Surridge is still only 23 and with a manager that is notorious for developing young players and creative players such as James Garner, Brennan Johnson and Philip Zinckernagel, Forest could be the perfect club for the striker to flourish.