Former Nottingham Forest favourite Dexter Blackstock has shared his thoughts on the impending departure of Ben Osborn to Sheffield United.

The midfielder could be a Blades player by the end of the week, with a medical thought to be taking place before the signing is confirmed.

Osborn has made 230 appearances since breaking into the first team, and Blackstock believes 'Forest will miss' him this season.

The 24-year-old has been a key feature of the side in recent years, partially due to his ability to play in a variety of positions and formations, although he is most effective in the middle of the pitch.

Many Forest fans have responded in a defiant manner, claiming Osborn's absence will not impact the team as much as their former striker thinks, and with the club set to bring in more than £3m for the deal, a better replacement could be brought in.

Sabri Lamouchi has made a lot of changes to the squad since his arrival, and it is likely there will be a new look and style to Forest this season, which could mean that Osborn's departure benefits the club.

The Verdict

Osborn has featured regularly for the club under the various managers Forest have had in recent years but has never seemed to get the credit he perhaps deserved from some of them, which suggests he isn't indispensable

However, Blackstock is accurate in his judgement. It is a huge benefit to have a player of Osborn's versatility in the squad, as it can negate the impact of injuries and allow the manager to use different formations depending what suits a certain match.

It will be very difficult to bring in a player similar, but with the money earned they could target a midfielder who has more to offer and can make a real difference to the success of the team.