Nottingham Forest youngster Zach Abbott has travelled down to Crystal Palace today with the first-team squad. The starlet wasn’t included in the matchday squad by Steve Cooper but this experience could put him in good shape for the future.
The head coach has a proven track record with younger players. He won the World Cup with the England under-17s and hasn’t been shy when it comes to giving Forest talent a chance to shine.
Abbott is one young player that Forest have high hopes for. The Guardian claimed in September that Cooper had been personally monitoring the talented teenager in the youth ranks.
Abbott has made an appearance for the first team. He came on as a late substitute back in August when Forest knocked Grimsby Town out of the Carabao Cup in the second round.
The youngster typically operates as a centre-back but he can also operate as a full-back if required. He was also a huge part of the under-18 team that reached the FA Youth Cup Final during the 2021/22 campaign.
Abbott looks like a player who could make an impact on the senior ranks in the future. He’s strong, reads the game well and ultimately he looks like a player determined to take the chances that drop for him.
Abbott travelled with Forest senior squad to Crystal Palace
It’s great that Cooper chooses to do this with the younger players. Several players have got the opportunity to go with the senior ranks and soak up the atmosphere on various matchdays.
Abbott might well be one of the youngsters that gets a chance to star in pre-season. Last year, Cooper utilised lots of younger players in friendly games and the 17-year-old will now hope for a chance.
Time is, of course, firmly on the player’s side. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough though and perhaps Abbott can make the step up to men’s football in the not-so-distant future.