There was a real buzz around Nottingham Forest back in the summer when they broke their transfer record to bring in attacking-midfielder Joao Carvalho. 

The 21-year-old arrived for around £13million and it instantly triggered thoughts of Ruben Neves and the impact the midfielder had on Wolves' title-winning season.

It hinted at a true change in the club's fortunes. After years of poor performances, some verging on catastrophic, they will now surely be challenging towards the top of the Championship table.

However, 30 matches into the season, that has not proven to be the case. The Reds are slumped in 12th place and showing few signs of improvement under Martin O'Neill.

He has arrived at the club and tried to change things immediately. Lewis Grabban has been dropped controversially but so has Carvalho.

It has been a big surprise to see the Portuguese lose his place in particular, given how highly rated he is by the fans and the money spent on him.

But what is HE thinking?

Having made the big decision to travel to England to pursue his footballing ambitions, Carvalho should not be at all impressed to be sidelined immediately by his new boss.

To have made played just 18 minutes of football in the three matches since O'Neill's arrival would be disappointing to anyone.

It will most likely be frustrating, more than anything. He knows the creative qualities he possesses and can see how badly the team is lacking in that department. Why is he being frozen out?

Making that trip to a foreign country and speaking a different language is a big decision for anyone to make, but for someone who is just 21, it is an even bigger one.

There is a real chance that homesickness could be creeping in and O'Neill must ensure that he keeps him happy.