Former Norwich City attacker Dean Ashton believes that addressing Nottingham Forest's inconsistencies will be the key to success for Martin O'Neil if he is to be hired as manager. 

O'Neil is believed to be close to agreeing terms with the club with whom he played after Aitor Karanka quit his role as manager last week with the Reds sat just outside the play-offs.

"There's not a huge gulf between themselves and the play-offs," the EFL on Quest pundit told Football League World.

"At times I've watched Nottingham Forest and thought they were absolutely superb.

"It's that inconsistency. So for whoever comes in to replace Karanka it will be about the consistency of that team because they've shown at times, especially against Leeds recently, that they have actually got the quality there but something is missing."

After splashing out on 17 new faces in the summer, patience had begun to run thin with the Spaniard as the club failed to break into the top-six.

A 2-0 loss to relegation-threatened Reading at the Madjeski on Saturday meant the Reds dropped four points behind Derby County, who currently sit in sixth, in the race for the play-offs.

If O'Neil is to be hired, his first could be against Bristol City, who have snuck back into the promotion picture in recent weeks, at the City Ground.

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