Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has provided his assessment of Nottingham Forest's promotion chances, with the Reds currently well in the race for the play-offs at the time of writing. 

Sabri Lamouchi has transformed the City Ground side into genuine contenders to make a return to the Premier League for the first time since the late 90's.

Playing something of a counter attacking style, the Frenchman has brought the best out of his key attacking players this term, with the likes of Lewis Grabban, Sammy Ameobi and Joe Lolley performing on a consistent basis for the Midlands club this term.

The side's attacking talent combined with experienced heads in the form of Michael Dawson and Ben Watson in the more defensive areas has gone a long way towards creating a unit which is solid in all areas, with Forest having only conceded 35 goals this term.

The likes of Matty Cash and Joe Worrall both continue to excel also, with their being a growing feeling that this could well be the club's year to return to the big time after so long away.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World's Chief Editor Sam Rourke, Hendrie was quick to comment on the club's chances of promotion this season:

"If I'm honest I think it's play-offs, I think they've just dropped off the pace a little bit which has just been disappointing for Nottingham Forest because you know they've sort of been there or thereabouts for a few seasons really. 

"And if have that blip in form, if you're gonna be maintaining that form to win promotion you've got to be winning games and you know even the game in midweek against Middlesbrough, that's a game that if you're going to be pushing for the top two, you've gotta be going to Boro and going to get a win. 

"Lamouchi wasn't entirely happy with the way it was, and that's the problem, there's still plenty of games to go but I do feel the top two are just slowly picking up their form and drifting away again."