da leao： Gio Reyna's disastrous Nottingham Forest loan continued on Tuesday with a 15-minute bench cameo in their thumping of Fulham.
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Forest defeat Fulham 3-1Reyna comes off benchUSMNT star still struggling for minutesGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
It was the Morgan Gibbs-White show for Forest on Tuesday, with the 24-year-old netting a goal and notching an assist en route to a 3-0 halftime lead over Fulham. Cottagers boss Marco Silva was even forced into a triple change inside 30 minutes to try and counter the offensive momentum of Nuno Espirito Santo's men.
The attacking midfielder – who is ahead of Reyna in the pecking order – did absolutely everything he needed to show his boss why he's the clear first choice for his side. Reyna, meanwhile, was subbed on in the 75th minute. With Forest leading 3-1, they sat back and absorbed pressure, with the 21-year-old not having much to do with their attack to close things out.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Reyna was linked with a plethora of clubs during the January transfer window as he looked to escape Borussia Dortmund. From Sevilla in Spain to Marseille in France, Fiorentina in Italy and Ajax in the Netherlands, he was a wanted man.
For some reason, though, the USMNT star and his agent opted to sign for Forest – despite them already possessing a top-quality No.10 in Gibbs-White. The loan move was criticized by many to start, and two months on, he hasn't made any progress in securing a starting spot.
With a player like Gibbs-White ahead of you, it was a baffling choice to select Forest as his club. Reyna likely would have been better off with any of the other options available. Regardless, Reyna is not in the starting XI picture for Forest – and it doesn't seem like that is changing anytime soon.
USA TodayUSMNT IMPACT
Reyna's stupendous form during the March international break, where he won the CONCACAF Nations League Golden Ball, saw heads turn all around the world. He likely confirmed his spot in this summer's Copa America roster for the USMNT with those displays, but inconsistent minutes at club level will surely only hurt his prospects ahead of the tournament.
GOAL'S RATINGS
Gio Reyna (6/10):
Arrived off the bench in the 75th minute, but failed to make an impact with Forest leading 3-1.
Matt Turner (N/A):
Did not play.