Nottignham Forest defender Matty Cash has claimed that Brice Samba is the best goalkeeper he has played with during his time at The City Ground.

Samba joined the club from French side Caen late in the summer transfer window, and after being made to wait his turn, has now usurped Manchester City loanee Aro Muric as Forest's number one goalkeeper this season.

The 25-year-old has started Forest's last seven league games, keeping three clean sheets and helping his side to five wins in that time, with Sabri Lamouchi's side climbing to second in the Championship standings in through the course of that run, and Cash has clearly been impressed with Samba's contribution.

Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live about Samba, Cash - who has also played with Muric, Costel Pantilimon, Jordan Smith, Stephen Henderson, and Vladimir Stojkovic since graduating to Forest's senior side in 2016 - said: "He's the best goalkeeper I've played with. His distribution is ridiculous.

"His shot-stopping is excellent. He's a fantastic goalie. He's a big, big signing for the club."

Describing Samba's influence on the squad, Cash continued: "He's a legend, a proper funny guy and a great character. He's a great pro who does everything right on and off the pitch.

"He's a great asset to the club. He's quiet, but he's a good joke.  I get the way he is. He sits next to me in the changing room and he's one of my mates.

"He can also zing to me when I call for it. He puts it on my foot!"

Samba was one of six players to make the move to England with Forest for the first time during the summer, and Cash was full of praise for the way those signings have settled into the Championship, as he added: "They're good players and good characters. They've fitted straight in.

"It's been three months now working together as a team. We've been training together, there's been team bonding sessions.

"I feel we're a really close group. When we score you can see how much it means. "When we win you can see the passion of the players.

"I've never really had that here before."

Forest are next in action a week on Sunday, when they travel to The DW Stadium to take on Wigan Athletic.

The Verdict

It is hard to argue with Cash's claim here.

Samba has been outstanding between the posts for Lamouchi's side this season, and it does seem as though he has brought a reassuring presence to Forest's defence, following some nervy moments from Muric earlier in the campaign.

Given the impact it seems as though Muric has had behind the scenes as well, I don't think his role as their first-choice stopper is something that is really going to be challenged anytime soon.

Indeed, with the run that Forest have enjoyed recently, it does seem as though Samba is going to have a big part to play if Forest are to maintain their push for promotion to the Premier League throughout the course of the season.

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