Ian McParland has offered an assessment on Nuno da Costa and Joao Carvalho's time away from Nottingham Forest this season.

Both da Costa and Carvalho departed Forest on loan in the summer transfer window, joining Royal Excel Mouscron and UD Almeria respectively.

The latter - a £13.2million signing from Benfica in 2018 - is yet to score in eight games for Almeria and has registered only one assist, for the side who sit fifth in the Spanish Segunda Division.

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Da Costa - who only arrived at Forest from Strasbourg in January - was sent out on loan to Belgium to Royal Excel Mouscron.

The 29-year-old has only made one appearance for Mouscron since joining the club, and is yet to open his account this season.

Speaking on Notts TV's latest 'Team Talk' episode, former Forest caretaker manager and youth coach Ian McParland offered an assessment on the pair's time away from the East Midlands.

He said: "I've been keeping an eye on my friend Joao Carvalho who had a lot to say for himself.

"He's gone to Almeria and he's not pulling up any trees in Spain. He's having a right struggle.

"Nuno da Costa went to Royal Excel Mouscron, he's having an absolute stinker, which I thought he would as the lad cannot play. He's not even getting in the team.

"You've got Brennan Johnson who I think Forest should have kept. He's setting the world alight at Lincoln City and is doing a great job. If you're going to play somebody at number 10, he's the lad to play at number 10."

The Verdict

I think it's harsh to write both Carvalho and da Costa off already.

Carvalho hasn't scored as many goals and registered as many assists as he would have liked, but he seems to getting on quite well for Almeria and has been producing some fine performances.

Da Costa never really hit the ground running at Forest and started out wide mostly, but he will be looking to score a lot of goals during his time in Belgium.