Scott Wootton aims to help Nottingham Forest to safety – and boost his career
SCOTT Wootton hopes to help steer Nottingham Forest to safety in the Championship – and fire his own Manchester United career at the same time.
The defender will be part of the Reds' relegation fight until the end of the season, after arriving on loan.
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He's a red: Forest's on-loan defender Scott Wootton in action for Peterborough earlier in the season.
The 20-year-old is determined to play a part in helping Steve Cotterill's side pull clear of trouble.
And, at the same time, he hopes the experience of playing more first-team football will help him take a step up the pecking order at Old Trafford in the future.
"If I can do well here, it will only stand me in good stead," he said. "Look at the players who have been out from United in the past, who have gone on to do good things in the game.
"If the likes of David Beckham and Danny Welbeck can go out on loan to learn their trade a little bit, it is not going to harm me, is it?
"Hopefully I can play some matches and be better for the experience I can pick up here.
"I have another year on my contract after this season.
"The manager let me come here on the basis of the fact he was comfortable that I would get playing time.
"And, hopefully, along the way, we can turn things around for Forest as well."
Wootton is bracing himself for a tough challenge at the City Ground, as Forest look to claw their way out of the bottom three starting with tomorrow's match against Watford at the City Ground
But he feels he can go into the next few months in a positive frame of mind.
"It will help that I have not been part of things so far," he said. "I am coming in fresh, I am coming in new to things.
"It may not be an easy loan move for me, I suppose.
"But when I look at the players here, I am sure the club can turn the corner.
"It will not be long before the club starts to win games. One win could do it – that could start things off."
Wootton spent the first half of the season on loan at Peterborough and even played at the City Ground for Posh as they won 1-0 on Boxing Day.
But the versatile Wootton was asked to play in a defensive midfield role on that afternoon – and admits that was a factor in him wanting to join Forest.
"I was not upset at playing there. I just felt that, at this stage in my career, I would prefer to be playing in defence.
"I am hopeful that I will get the chance to play in the centre of defence with Forest.
"Peterborough are a good club and a good team. Being there helped me a lot.
"When I was first in the team I played in the back four then, after I had been injured, I ended up playing at the base of the diamond.
"That was part of the reason I did not go back, because I was keen to play at centre-back."
Wootton has already been impressed with the squad he has joined at Forest, even in comparison with the host of Premier League big names he is used to training with at Old Trafford.
"It is a very good squad, in terms of the quality they have here," he said. "They have players who have had success in their careers.
"For whatever reason, things have not been going well. But I am confident the team will soon be moving in the right direction.
"At United, I train most of the time with the first team. That is a brilliant experience for me.
"The way they train, the way they work and the way they act off the pitch is just so professional.
"But I will get invaluable experience going out on loan. I will learn a lot by playing in the Championship."
23 Comments
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by zicorice
Saturday, February 11 2012, 12:52PM
“To be honest I think if Higinbottom is considered match fit enough, then he will start alongside Wooton - he is a class act by the way - as our back four has been struggling all season.
Replacing 75% of them seems like a decent idea to me, reminding the others of the basics hopefully. I always felt Lynch had the ability to come good and still do, however, fresh faces that improve us have to be a good thing don't they?
I know it may not be on the same level - yet - but I remember a certain 19 year old loanee in platts era who looked decent. In fact he looked better than than he currently does! Probably a nicer bloke back then too before fame and money! Step forward John Terry.”
by davies72
Friday, February 10 2012, 6:11PM
“"And, hopefully, along the way, we can turn things around for Forest as well."
why are we wasting our time with idiots like this?”
by southernred1
Friday, February 10 2012, 3:39PM
“Geered...
cant agree sorry if we are stuck with clueless for the term of his contract we are doomed to league 1 even a non league or sunday league manager can see that to survive we need to win ... so why the 4.5.1/5.4.1 and long ball
this man is not a good manager by any means his former record shows this and surely unless i am wrong we now have an unbalance again (3 left backs)... would have thought that good a signing the elk may be we might have tried for a Striker who can score ... sorry but have seen too much of this mans mediocre management and motivation.. just ask a few of the pompey lads ... especially dave kitson”
by flipflopper
Friday, February 10 2012, 3:09PM
“GeeRed, it's good to see comments like yours. They are well thought out and actually say something. Not everyone will agree with you all the time, but it is good to read something sensible, instead of "X is cr@p, never has been any good, never will be". Lynch was a perenial target for those with mouths bigger than their brains, now he is receiving near god-like status from many of the same people. As fans we are entitled to an opinion, but that opinion needs some sensible backup, to give it any credence. If a player is playing poorly there will be a valid reason, good players do not become bad players overnight. Perhaps they are carrying an injury, have mind problems or simply do not fit into the footballing methods being employed. It does not mean that they are cr@p.
Thanks GeeRed for your interesting thoughts.”
by YodaNFFC
Friday, February 10 2012, 3:03PM
“looking forward to saturdays game with Watford, hope the new signings freshen the team up and the forwards to get on the score sheet and i hope the likes of Blackstock, Tuday, Miller and Derbyshire have stayed on the training ground a few extra hours this week doing so finishing practice. Its time the lads on the pitch did something to put a smile on the fans faces during these sad times i.e The sad passing of Doughty R.I.P and Thank you for everything.
I would like to see some of the Young lads from the Academy in the squad from time to time this season aswell, we are supposed to have some top young lads at the club so it could only help the team.
My starting 11 for Saturday would be: Camp, Gunter, Lascelles, Chambers/Higginbotham, Elokobi, McCleary, Guedioura, McGugan, Reid, Blackstock, Tudgay.
COYR!!!! Do it For Doughty, The Fans and for YOURSELF Restore the pride we had last season”
by yepitsthepigs
Friday, February 10 2012, 2:56PM
“And when you lose youl understand why your going down. No Pride, No committment, No honour. Im just waiting for Steve Cockrill to say 'I didnt ask for these players' haha”
by figaro1
Friday, February 10 2012, 2:10PM
“I wonder if Forest are paying the same as Peterborough for Wooton?”
by TrentEndRed
Friday, February 10 2012, 12:23PM
“GeeRed totally spot on!
Forest is a club of the most amazingly wild contrasts so don't be surprised if we go on a dizzy unbeaten run until the end of the season. I doubt any other club has a rollercoaster of a recent history as us. Just a few things that spring to mind:
2 consecutive European Cups that really came out of nowhere
3rd in prem league after promoted back there, 2 years later relegated and first Euro Cup winners to slump to 3rd tier of domestic league.
42 games unbeaten only recently bettered
last season unbeaten for xx games (20?) and we had that spell of unbeaten away then couldn't win another game. unbeaten at home all year, something like won 12 games on the trot if i remember correctly...and then the current slump. I can't remember the last time we spent an entire season ditthering with mid table mediocrity.
Most other clubs have a steady history, the odd promotion and relegation, the odd cup win here and there.
But not Forest.
We have had an owner that tried probably too hard to acheive success and has sadly died. Other clubs have had 'excitement' induced by threat of administration or being wound up.
Well we've hit rock bottom this last week - so now it's up. and non stop please!”
by cafka2020
Friday, February 10 2012, 11:07AM
“I hope to god that SC doesn't drop Lynch, he is head and shoulders above Chambers.”
by farcall2
Friday, February 10 2012, 11:03AM
“Well I've just strung 16 players from the squad, Pace, flair, Guts, Energy,Determination,Proud, and a sense of wanting to do somthing for the club and its fans, yep its 3 points for me, and if played regularly should deliver for the rest of the season..al (sober)”