It has been a disappointing start to the 2015/16 campaign for Nottingham Forest, who lie in a tragic 16th place in the Championship table.

After a start which offered some hope that the Reds could put their off field troubles behind them, the club have now won just two games in ten domestic outings and need to get back on track fast.

Manager Dougie Freedman assembled a squad which he thought was capable of challenging towards the top end of the table and not one he anticipated would be languishing down at the bottom of the league.

With a tough run of games over the Christmas period on the horizon, Freedman knows he needs wins at the club and fast, if he is to keep his job.

Here, FootballLeagueWorld writer Lee Clarke takes a look at five players who need to start pulling their weight a little bit more to aid the club's ailing fortunes...

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE 5 PLAYERS!

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Nelson Oliveira

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The Portuguese forward is a trier and few can knock his effort and work rate.

What the on-loan Benfica star must start doing on a more consistent basis is hitting the net to boost the club's tally of goals.

The club have scored just 16 goals this season which is an alarming stat to say the least, although he did net twice in Forest's 3-1 win over Reading on Saturday.

It isn't for a lack of trying but he simply has to find his scoring boots sooner rather than later. He may have turned a corner after his brace against the Royals though.

Ryan Mendes

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Another loan star at the City Ground, Mendes has looked lively and dangerous in his appearances to date for the Reds.

Where the Lille player must improve is his end product into the box, which has been found wanting in recent weeks.

The 25-year-old is reasonably unknown in these parts and he has taken to the Championship reasonably well over the past couple of months.

If the Cape Verde international can add some quality in his final touch to his game, Forest will have a real player on their hands.

Jack Hobbs

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The ex-Leicester City and Hull City defender has struggled to replicate the form his showed when he first arrived at the City Ground during the current campaign.

Hobbs is a better defender when playing to his strengths and at present it seems as though he is trying a little too hard.

An old-fashioned defender, Hobbs is a no-nonsense type of central defender with a warrior-like mentality, but this season he just hasn't got a rhythm going.

A superb defender on his day but I can't help but feel that Hobbs just needs to go back to basics in his play to rediscover top form.

Matt Mills

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The summer signing from Freedman's old team Bolton Wanderers is quite frankly a yellow card waiting to happen.

I think Forest look more solid as a defensive unit when Mills is present but he needs to curb some of his passion to win every ball sometimes, as he gives away far too many needless penalties and free-kicks in problematic areas.

Again, I like Mills and do genuinely feel more comfortable when both he and Hobbs are playing at the heart of the defensive unit, but he needs to show more of his performance against Derby County, when he was disciplined and solid.

Dexter Blackstock

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If Freedman is going to persist with using Blackstock as a different option later on in games, then it is vital that he starts to improve soon.

The 29-year-old has been a superb servant for the Reds down the years, but since his knee ligament injury he hasn't quite looked the same player.

You constantly feel that the striker is holding something back these days and his finishing is getting more and more wayward by the game.

Forest are desperate for some goals and could really do with Blackstock to rediscover some of his form of old as we go into the busy Christmas period.

Forest fans... do you agree? Are these players under-performing? Are there others which are as well? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!