Nottingham Forrest manager Steve Cooper impressed with Richie Laryea’s debut performance
Nottingham Forrest manager Steve Cooper has lauded the performance of Ghanaian-Canadian Richie Laryea after his debut against West Bromwich Albian.
Laryea came on as a 79th-minute substitute in Monday’s 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
“He’s a really, really good guy. Calm, relaxed, has bought into what we are doing. His family are over here. He’s completely engaged,” said Cooper.
“He’s part of what we’re doing here. He’s part of the squad. If he’s called upon, I’m sure he’ll be doing everything he can to make sure he’s as ready as he can be.
“It was good to see him in the kit, wasn’t it? There’s something about that red kit and being at the City Ground.”
“And he’s taken not playing as much as he would have liked – none of them take it well – but he’s taken it professionally. I’ve explained to him, the situation, and he accepts it. Like he did on Monday night, you’ve just got to stay ready.
He moved to the Championship side from Toronto FC in January for £818,000 but had to wait until April to play his first match.
The victory put Forest in fifth place on 70 points with five remaining matches. Forest trails second-place Bournemouth by seven points for the final automatic promotion spot.
They lead seventh-place Millwall by five points and have two games in hand on the Lions.
Forest last played Premier League football in 1999. The team last reached the playoffs in 2011.
Laryea is of Ghanaian heritage. Reggie Laryea, his younger brother, plays soccer for the semi-professional team Vaughan Azzurri.
