Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton is hopeful that more Under-23 players will make the step-up to the first-team in the near future.

Young forward Will Swan - the Under-23s' leading goalscorer this season - will travel to the Vitality Stadium with the first-team squad as the Reds prepare to face AFC Bournemouth later this evening.

Swan has scored eight goals for the Under-23s' this term, and has been invited to travel with the squad as a reward for hard work and impressive form in the early stages of this season.

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Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, Hughton explained his decision to take Swan to Bournemouth along with the rest of his squad, and revealed his hope for more Under-23 players to make the step-up to the first-team setup.

He said: "He's a player who has impressed whenever I've seen him. I've watched two of the Under-23 games live and then a training game.

"He's impressed in them games. He's one that always looks like he's got an opportunity to score goals, he has that pace that can get him away from defenders.

"If I'm looking at the Under-23 squad that we've got, speaking to Gary (Brazil) and to Andy Reid, he's one of the players who have done better, so it's a reward for him. 

"The experience will be good for him, but it's important that he conducts himself in the right way. It won't do him any harm and it gives us an opportunity to have a look at him.

"I hope he won't be the only one. I hope there are maybe two or three others, at various stages, who will get the opportunity to train with us."

Forest have a plethora of talented young players coming through the ranks on Trentside. Brennan Johnson is currently thriving out on loan at Lincoln, whilst Ryan Yates and Alex Mighten are key members of the first-team squad nowadays.

Swan is one of many Under-23 players to have impressed this term, along with the likes of Ateef Konate and Yassine En-Neyah.

The Verdict

Swan is deserving of his chance, and it will be satisfying for fans to see that Hughton is keen to involve youngsters in his first-team plans.

Konate, En-Neyah and Swan are three players who will probably make the step-up to the first-team in the next year or two,

Forest have an excellent youth setup, and it's good to see that Hughton is another manager who wants to utilise that.