Nottingham Forest's standard team news piece at 2pm on Saturday only underlines how the club's fanbase feel about Ryan Yates.

The midfielder was named in Chris Hughton's first starting line-up in charge of the Reds, as they prepared to take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon.

As soon as the side was announced, fans immediately focused on the inclusion of Yates, with many feeling that a managerial change could lead to his omission from the side.

Instead, Yates lasted the full 94 minutes, helping Forest pick up their first win of the campaign and get the Hughton era off to a flyer in Lancashire.

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Yates has been a regular for Forest for nearly two seasons now. He was first given his chance under Martin O'Neill in the second-half of 2018/19, producing a string of committed performances for the club.

Last season was stop-start at first, but he soon earned a place in Sabri Lamouchi's side after recovering from injury, and was a key player in the latter stages of the season.

Yates has divided opinions ever since his introduction to the first-team, though. He isn't the most technical of players, nor does he contribute to goals and attacks too often.

What you do get with Yates, though, is grit, determination, defensive steel and dynamism in the middle of the park.

Yates wears his heart on his sleeve, and whilst Forest have the likes of Joe Lolley, Sammy Ameobi and Luke Freeman - three players who can all go forward and make an impact - Yates' role is underrated.

You need players in the team like him who can break up attacks. Players who can offer stability and drive in midfield. It's their dirty work which allows the likes of Freeman and Lolley to go forward and create.

At the weekend, Yates was his usual steady and reliable self. He accrued a pass success rate of 71% from 22 passes, winning eight of his 14 duels.

He should have scored from a header which sailed over the bar in the second-half, but his gritty defensive work in the middle of the park, which helped silence a free-scoring Blackburn side - deserved credit.

It speaks volumes, too, that Yates has now been at the forefront of three manager's plans.

Hughton has come into the job, took training and clearly seen something in the midfielder to want to pick him in his first game in charge.

Of course, in time and with more training sessions under his belt, Hughton may view Yates completely different, and opt to start with the likes of Harry Arter and Jack Colback in midfield instead.

But whilst a young, homegrown player is thriving and helping Forest win football matches, what should get in the way of a 22-year-old developing and learning as games go by?