Nottingham Forest got back to winning ways this past weekend, seeing off Hull City to keep pace with the chasing play-off pack.

It was a much-needed positive result after a defeat to Stoke City in their outing prior to the Tigers.

Martin O’Neill altered the club’s system from 4-1-4-1 in the defeat to the 4-3-1-2 formation that got the better of Nigel Adkins’ men.

A player that paid the price for the change in tactics was Ben Watson, with January signing Pele coming in to make his Nottingham Forest debut.

He started and finished the game and put on a mightily impressive performance, in what can be classed a breakthrough moment for the player.

And that might well leave Watson on edge that his continued place in the side is under threat.

He may well be worried that season could be in jeopardy of coming to a premature end if Pele continues to impress.

The system worked to a tee having a three-man midfield sitting deeper with Joe Lolley behind a front two.

It was genius by O’Neill to operate like that, but Watson will not be thinking the same on the inside.

There may be congratulations and high-fives for the win, but the midfielder will be peeved his place has been taken by Pele.

With the 27-year-old showing in 90 minutes what affect Watson's involvement in the next few games, or worst-case scenario, the remainder of the season.

The Forest boss is still looking at his team and considering who is best served where for the rest of the campaign heading into the new one in August.

The 33-year-old is in the twilight of his career, and he would have understood that he would be ousted from the side – it was inevitable at his age, despite some positive performances this year.

In truth, Watson has been a bit part player, starting just a dozen times and coming off the bench thrice.

With age comes experience but also paranoia that his time could be up – and Watson will be sweating over his Forest future if Pele continues to impress and he is unable to find a way back into the team this season ahead of a potential summer cull by O’Neill.