Following the end of a drab 2020/21 campaign, many were expecting Nottingham Forest to be in for a busy summer under Chris Hughton.

The Reds completely failed to live up to expectations last season and staggered to a 17th placed finish in the Championship, leaving the experienced 62-year-old with plenty of work to do in the summer.

Forest bid farewell to 12 players at the end of last season, with five loan players all returning to their parent clubs and a further seven being let go upon the expiration of their contracts, paving the way for new faces to arrive and for Hughton to finally make his mark on his squad.

Instead, with four days to go until the start of a new Championship campaign, Forest have made only one signing, with goalkeeper Ethan Horvath arriving on a three-year deal initially as back-up to Brice Samba.

It has been a frustrating window so far for Hughton, with finances proving to be a nuisance following a season behind-closed-doors and lengthy deals handed out in the past.

It has been hard for new CEO Dane Murphy to really stamp his authority on Trentside, too, and any business they do conduct will go right down to the wire this window.

In the meantime, Hughton will be preparing his side for their first Championship fixture, with a trip to Coventry City on the horizon this weekend.

Here, we take a look at what the manager's best XI might look like on paper, taking injuries into account, as the new campaign draws ever closer...

As alluded to before, Ethan Horvath has arrived at the City Ground on a three-year deal following his exit from CluB Brugge.

Horvath will initially come in as back-up to Brice Samba, with Hughton set to retain faith in the Congolese shot-stopper ahead of the new campaign.

Samba, who kept 13 clean sheets in 2019/20 and was named in the PFA Team of the Year, kept 14 clean sheets for the Reds last season.

There is no denying that he is a quality goalkeeper and has been a solid addition for the Reds since his arrival from Caen last summer.

He's their best option at the moment, but Horvath will look to push him all the way.

Jordan Gabriel will be eager to make his mark at the City Ground this season despite a summer of speculation.

The full-back made 35 appearances in all competitions on loan at Blackpool last season, helping the Tangerines win promotion from League One.

This summer, he has been linked with a permanent move to Bloomfield Road, and Sunderland are also said to be keen on the right-back.

But Gabriel, for now, remains on Trentside and has been an important player under Hughton in pre-season.

He'll start the season as first-choice right-back, however you feel that depth is needed, with Carl Jenkinson currently back-up.

There really isn't any doubt about this one.

Worrall is another player who has dominated the back pages this summer, with the defender continually being linked with a move away from the City Ground.

The likes of Brentford, Norwich and West Ham have all been monitoring the homegrown defender, and there is no guarantee that he will still be a Forest player come the end of the window.

For now, he remains firmly in Chris Hughton's plans and will start against Coventry this weekend, as he remains professional and dedicated to helping his boyhood club achieve success.

McKenna has proven to be an astute addition for Forest since he arrived from Aberdeen last summer.

The Scotland international struck up a fabulous partnership with Worrall towards the end of last season.

Furthermore, his ability to play on the left side of central defender gives the Reds balance at the back, and gets the best out of Worrall.

If Forest can hold onto Worrall, and the pair stay fit for the whole season, then they could have one of the defensive pairings in the division.

This is where things start to become very problematic, and to say Forest have a dilemma at left-back is an understatement.

At the moment, Forest are currently lacking a first-choice left-back heading into the new season.

Josh Doig and Lee Buchanan are among those who have been linked with a move to the City Ground, as the club look to solve their problem position.

Tyler Blackett is currently out injured, Yuri Ribeiro was released at the end of last season, Gaetan Bong is in the bomb squad, and Nicholas Ioannou has joined Como on loan.

Loic Mbe Soh, a natural centre-half, and Jayden Richardson, a natural right-back, have both filled in and played there in pre-season.

Due to his ability to play at full-back, Richardson is arguably Forest's best realistic left-back option at the moment, but expect that to change in the coming weeks.

Forest do have many more options in midfield, mind.

Ryan Yates is likely to keep his place in the side having been an important player since Hughton arrived at the City Ground.

The midfielder seems to have really bulked up in pre-season and has looked impressive in friendlies, and will start against Coventry this weekend.

Cafu is likely to be Yates' midfield partner for this weekend.

The Portuguese midfielder was a surprise package for the Reds last season, following his arrival initially on loan from Olympiacos.

His move was made permanent in February, and will now be looking to kick on after showing glimpses of his ability last term.

Forest do retain an interest in James Garner, though, and Reading's Josh Laurent is also of interest.

Don't be surprised to see one of them two take up this position in the future.

Joe Lolley will be desperate to make an impact this season after an injury-hit campaign last time out.

The winger was tremendous for the Reds in his first full two seasons with the club, scoring plenty of goals and chipping in with a number of assists.

Last season, though, he featured only 28 times in the Championship, scoring only one goal and registering two assists.

He's looked impressive in pre-season, though, and after recovering from a hamstring injury, he will be fit and raring to make an impact.

Like Worrall, Johnson is another player who Forest will be desperate to keep hold of amid speculation surrounding his future.

Last season, the 20-year-old thrived on loan in League One with Lincoln City, scoring 13 goals in all competitions.

Brentford have had two bids turned down for the winger this summer, as Forest desperately trying and cling onto his services.

He scored two goals against Crewe Alexandra in a friendly almost a fortnight ago from the number 10 position, and he is expected to make that position his own.

Last season was a rewarding one for Alex Mighten.

After making his debut under Sabri Lamouchi in 2019/20, the winger went on to make 24 appearances in the Championship last season, scoring three goals in the league.

The task for Mighten will now be to improve and make closer to 40 appearances, as he continues to dazzle in pre-season.

He is an exciting player who could turn a few heads this season.

Grabban will be keen to silence his critics this season.

The striker scored only six goals in the Championship last season, with many fans wanting the club to replace him with a new forward this summer.

But the 33-year-old's goal record for the Reds is hugely impressive. He scored 17 goals in his first season at the City Ground, before scoring 20 goals in 2019/20.

He is a proven goalscorer at this level, and if you can play to his strengths, he will score you goals.