There is much excitement around the City Ground regarding Ryan Yates’ excellent pre-season.

The central midfielder was considered as likely to go out on loan again, but the 20-year-old’s form has given Aitor Karanka cause to pause and consider whether to include him in next season’s plans. However, he should stick to his guns and loan him out.

Yates has impressed, having featured in all five of Nottingham Forest’s pre-season games so far. His two goals put him as the club’s pre-season top scorer, while he has been equally instrumental in helping to create chances. It comes off the back of successful spells at Notts County and Scunthorpe United. At both clubs, Yates established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

It is easy to see why thoughts would turn to keeping him as opposed to sending him out on loan. However, this would be a mistake for two reasons.

First, pre-season is no indicator of how a player will perform in the regular season, due to the quality of opponents and low-key nature of the games. For instance, Yates’ goals came against Gibraltarian side Lincoln Red Imps and Scunthorpe.

Secondly, he will not get sufficient playing time at Nottingham Forest to allow him to develop. The likes of Jack Colback, Liam Bridcutt, Joao Carvalho, and Ben Watson will all be ahead of him in the pecking order. For Yates’ game to evolve and improve, he needs regular football. He will not have that at the City Ground next season.