On the face of it, Forest's move for Jack Colback might not be one that raised eyebrows in the East Midlands. after his loan spell last season, he was widely expected to be back at the City Ground.

As the continental flair began to gather on the training ground, a solid and dependable English midfield was never going to catch the headlines.

Gil Dias, Joao Carvalho and their fellow foreign imports are likely to be the ones the papers write about regularly.

That isn't to say Jack Colback isn't a significant signing, in fact he could be as crucial as anybody else they've signed this summer.

His arrival should now make them firm favourites to finish in the top two, over and above almost anyone else they've bought.

The spine of a side is as important as any of the fancy dressings a manager adds. Wingers, strikers and playmakers are the icing on a cake, but in the centre of midfield there is a sponge, understated but crucial to the make up of any good side. it might not be eye catching, it might not earn plaudits for wonder goals and assists, but without it the whole cake looks pretty ridiculous.

Aitor Karanka recognised that one of Forest's issues last season was a lack of heart in the middle of the park. He brought in Ben Watson, as good a player as you'll find in the second tier. Watson is a battler, he was a driving force behind Wigan's remarkable FA Cup win and he will never let his side down.

One man doesn't hold a midfield though and in Colback, Forest have added the perfect partner for Watson. Karanka seemed to favour a 4-3-3 last season, but players such as Dias will be far more suited to an attacking formation, perhaps a 3-5-2 or standard 4-1-4-1. In both, there's a need for tow central midfielders harassing, pressing and breaking up play.

28-year old Colback has fallen on hard times after his Newcastle spell turned sour under Benitez. This is still a player who has played all of his football in the top two divisions, so has the experience necessary to help drag Forest on. When those cold winter nights pull in, Colback will be just as at home as ever. The same might not be said for the Portuguese contingent.

Also, as a left footed player, he adds balance to the midfield. There's a lot to be said for having left-footed players in central positions as it makes the passages of play more fluid, from one side of the pitch to the other. It may only take a right footed player a second to switch feet, but that time could be crucial.

The two box to box midfielders will likely be the heart around which the Forest side is built, both are fighters, both will be just as happy in front of the own 18-yard area as facing the oppositions and neither will stop fighting for the cause. With them leading by example, Forest's long stay out of the top flight is surely coming to an end.

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