Nottingham Forest secured the service of Ross McCormack on transfer deadline day, bringing the Aston Villa striker to the club on loan for the remainder of the season.

Villa had only signed McCormack six months earlier, forking out £12m to buy the striker from Fulham as they searched for a source of goals to fire them back into the top tier.

The Scotsman comes with a proven record of scoring goals in the Sky Bet Championship, the 30-year old has scored over 100 goals at this level for Cardiff, Leeds and most recently Fulham.

Still, the former Tartan Army star has struggled this term, finding the net just three times for Villa this season and his stint in the Midlands never truly looked a natural one.

This has led to Steve Bruce opting to play Jonathan Kodjia and Gabby Agbonlahor ahead of McCormack, meaning a man who cost the club so much was merely wasting his time on the bench.

Bruce openly criticised the striker’s fitness levels and called him out for missing a training session due to difficulties opening his electrical gates at home.

As a result, this proved to be the final straw for the club, with McCormack joining Forest on loan to help fire the Reds away from a relegation battle, as he did with Fulham last term.

Villa releasing McCormack for the remainder of the season will be cushioned by their new signing, Scott Hogan, who joined the club from Brentford on the same day of course

McCormack joins a Forest side that is on the up following three victories in their last four games and has just drawn level on points with Villa, easing relegation fears along the way.

Forest also completed the signing of Zach Clough from Bolton Wanderers during the January transfer window, and the youngster’s creativity is bound to bring out the best in McCormack.

Britt Assombalonga has been Forest’s preferred striking option this season, but McCormack will give Gary Brazil a different option in games, with his ability to play anywhere across the frontline.

With Forest just eight points above the relegation zone, if the Scot can find the form that secured him a move to Villa Park, his goals could be vital in the Reds maintaining their Championship status.

Whilst things were not working out for McCormack at Villa Park, the club have let a more than capable Championship striker leave, and Villa’s loss could be Forest’s gain between now and the end of the season.

Forest fans... Are you excited to see McCormack in your club's colours? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!