Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Guy Moussi believes that Sabri Lamouchi's handling of Forest midfielder Ben Watson this season demonstrates his quality as a manager.

Watson was somewhat of a peripheral figure at Nottingham Forest last season, and the experienced midfielder only making 17 appearances in the Championship for the Reds last term, with Newcastle United loanee Jack Colback preferred to him at the base of midfield.

That led to suggestions that Watson would not really be able to make an impact at the City Ground, but the appointment of Lamouchi in the summer has given the 34-year-old a new lease of life with the midfielder a key part of the Forest side so far this term, making 15 appearances and scoring two goals already.

Moussi enjoyed a six-year spell at Nottingham Forest between 2008 and 2014 making 136 appearances for the club, and the former Reds midfielder knows all about what it takes to perform well and win over supporters at the City Ground.

Speaking to the Athletic, Moussi suggested that the way Lamouchi has handled Watson shows his managerial qualities, saying: "Ben Watson people were saying that he cannot play any more; that he was this and that. Now he is scoring goals, he is playing very well. It is all about putting a player in the right place. You need to persuade a player to give their best for you. Lamouchi does that.

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"Players who become professional players before the age of 17, how many of them are still in the game at 21? You have to have something about you, if you make it to a certain age as a professional. You have to have quality. But it is down to a good manager to get the best out of player.

"Get the best out of players and the team will do better. This is where Sabri is succeeding now. People listen to his words, because he has been there and done it as an ex-player."

The Verdict

Moussi is right to suggest that the way Lamouchi has brought Watson back into the first team fold and made him a key part of his side, highlights the Frenchman's man management qualities which are essential in the modern game.

Lamouchi's faith in Watson is certainly paying off so far this season, with the 34-year-old's experience proving a vital quality to the Reds midfield, and he has managed to form a very effective partnership with summer signing Samba Sow at the heart of midfield so far.

Watson has even started to add goals to his game, with two league goals for the season already, and Lamouchi's decision to make him a key part of the side appears to have been a very wise one - and he will now be hoping that the midfielder's experience can help guide the club to promotion.