Nuno Espírito Santo may have just found a secret weapon in Nottingham Forest’s first friendly…
Nottingham Forest had their first run out of the 25/26 season on Saturday in a 0-0 draw against Chesterfield, but one aspect of the game will have seriously excited Nuno Espírito Santo.
It was the first outing for Forest’s 25/26 home kit against The Spireites, in what will likely be the only memorable aspect in what was more of a useful afternoon of fitness rather than tactical work.
Forest fans weren’t happy with Jota Silva’s display in what was a particularly important game for the Portuguese winger, with it being his first chance to prove that he can be a part of the solution to replace Anthony Elanga.
While it didn’t work out for Jota, a second-half display from a Forest Academy star down the right side will have got Espírito Santo thinking.
Jimmy Sinclair battles with Cam’ron Ismail in the PL2 match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Jimmy Sinclair stars in Nottingham Forest pre-season friendly
Given the early stage of pre-season, plenty of youngsters were able to earn some minutes against Chesterfield, with one who came on at half time catching the eye the most.
Changes at the break. 🔁 pic.twitter.com/v7u49ddTS8
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) July 12, 2025
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18-year-old Jimmy Sinclair entered the fray for the second half and immediately impressed the onlooking supporters, stretching the play down the right side and the home defence back.
Espírito Santo tweaked the system in the second half to play with three central defenders, which made Sinclair’s role more akin to a wing-back, but he handled the complexity admirably and even got on the end of some trademark Murillo cross-field passes.
Nearly topping off the afternoon, Sinclair had one of Forest’s best opportunities after latching onto a clever cross from Callum Hudson-Odoi at the back post, forcing a good save from the goalkeeper.
The Forest manager will have been impressed with what he saw from the Nottingham-born teenager, who has already garnered fans in the academy set-up.
Jimmy Sinclair is popular within the Nottingham Forest academy
There’s no better time than in pre-season to experiment with both personnel and tactics, with Sinclair a large part of why the three at the back system looked a promising concept against Chesterfield.
Luckily for Espírito Santo, then, he will have plenty of time to look at Sinclair as the winger signed a new deal at the City Ground back in April.
Speaking on the Forest website at the time, Head of Academy Chris McGuane said of Sinclair: “We are delighted for Jimmy, who has embraced every opportunity presented to him and continues to get better. His attitude each day to improving is exemplary and has always worked hard to develop his game.
“He is a well-liked member of the Academy who we often see doing extras on the pitch with staff after training. He fully deserves his chance to continue his progression with us.”
As long as Sinclair keeps up this hard work and puts in more impressive displays this pre-season, he may just find himself in the mind of Espírito Santo come the start of the season.
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