Ireland defender Andrew Omobamidele is reportedly seeking a loan move away from Nottingham Forest after being overlooked for their FA Cup win over Luton Town.
Despite Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo making 11 changes to reward fringe players, Omobamidele was not included in the squad, either in the starting XI or on the bench.
Santo clarified after the game that the changes were deliberate and not due to injuries:
“If I didn’t trust them, I would not start them. We made a lot of changes, but the depth of the squad is there. We still have to improve, but it is good to have all of them. Only Ibrahim Sangare is not with us. Other than that, we have all of them healthy. It is good because it is going to be very tough.”
Omobamidele’s continued exclusion marks another setback in a challenging season at Forest.
The Ireland international has made just one appearance since his arrival from Norwich City, in a League Cup match back in August.
He has now gone 13 consecutive games without making the bench, with his last involvement coming during the Premier League win over Crystal Palace in October.
Potential Loan Move on the Horizon
Championship clubs Leeds United and Sheffield United have been linked with a loan move for the young defender.
Leeds’ progression to the fourth round of the FA Cup, combined with Omobamidele being cup-tied, could make Elland Road a likely destination.
However, Forest might also consider loaning him to a club within their ownership network, such as Olympiacos in Greece or Rio Ave in Portugal, where they currently have other players on loan.
Omobamidele’s struggles for game time at Forest have not only impacted his club career but also his position in the Ireland squad.
His lack of minutes has seen him fall out of contention for international duty, particularly with the rise of Liam Scales and the return of players like John Egan from injury.
Reflecting on his situation earlier this season, Omobamidele said:
“I think I’m obviously fully focused on being ready to play if I get my opportunity. You know back end of the last season I played 13 or 14 games. It’s a Premier League club, the competition is high, we have so many good top-level centre-backs, so I just need to keep fighting.”
