In December 2014, Nottingham Forest were handed a transfer embargo for failing to abide by Financial Fair Play rules.

This was mainly after spending large sums on player transfers and player wages including club record signing Britt Assombalonga for £5.5 million. Many players who weren’t even featuring in the starting eleven were on large wages and this caused the two time European Cup Winners to be placed under an embargo.

This was then reduced from a full transfer embargo in February 2015 but restrictions were still implemented meaning that they aren’t allowed to sign players on professional contracts, after paying a transfer fee and players couldn’t be signed on a wage above ten thousand pounds a week.

This will of course detriment any team as the transfer window is vital in giving a club the best possible chance of success with the resources at their disposal, however the Reds should not rule out a chance for promotion as I look at the key reasons why Forest fans can still be optimistic.

The last couple of seasons have been frustrating for Forest fans, having missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the 2012/13 season under the first year of owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi, they’ve had to settle for mid-table finishes since. The frustration will probably boil down to the great starts made in the last two seasons but ultimately the wins dried up and lead to a team full of talent not challenging.

A key reason is injuries. Any club in the Championship would miss it’s club captain and arguably best player. Chris Cohen and Andy Reid both have had constant struggles with injuries over the last two seasons.

Cohen particularly has barely featured at all after serious long term injuries and Andy Reid missed most of last season through a groin injury, a player that when fit is instrumental in Forest’s side, a set piece specialist who can also dictate the play.

Then crucially last season, top goalscorer Britt Assambolonga who scored 15 goals in just 29 league games was ruled out for 12 months following a freak knee injury meaning he will miss the the first few months of the new season.

A few long term injuries to key players sided with several minor injuries over the season has contributed to a squad underachieving in the last two seasons.

If you look at the 2013/14 as an example, both Leicester and Burnley stayed nearly completely injury free throughout the season meaning the same team was selected consistently. Would Burnley who had a small squad have been able to cope without captain Jason Shackell and Danny Ings for most of the season? You would guess not!

It’s a big if but if Forest can stay injury free it could spark some form. Players returning from injury could act as new signings, giving the whole club a lift.

Although Forest won’t start the season with a fully fit team, another opportunity presents itself when the likes of Reid and Cohen return to gain consistency and therefore drive momentum which is huge in a forty six game season.

Luck will have to be on side but a fully fit Forest team would cause some damage like it did at the start of last season. If Forest can stay in the pack for promotion up until the last few months and Assombalonga eventually re-finds his form before his injury, then there is every chance Nottingham Forest could finish in the top six.

Last season Nottingham Forest conceded 69  goals, the joint fifth worst in the league. A big improvement in this department would be required to leap higher up the table. The record would suggest this is the department Forest need to recruit in the most however I believe it’s a case of gaining a consistent back four and then relying on individuals to play to their potential to keep the goals out.

Michael Mancienne is regarded as one of the best defenders in the league and hugely impressed the City Ground crowd last season but his versatility could be his downfall.

Dougie Freeman used him at both Right Back and as a defensive midfielder which is not playing to his strengths. He needs to create a partnership with Jack Hobbs who suffered with injuries at times last season.

A physical centre back who also reads the game well, they should compliment each other and this could lead to a tighter unit at the back meaning there’s less pressure to score goals.

Eric Lichaj is also a reliable full-back, a player who is experienced and has established himself at the club. On paper, with the addition of another accomplished full back, Forest will have an excellent Championship defence which could provide the foundations for improvements this season.

It’s proven that a team that gets promoted needs a series of attributes, you cannot have one plan and be successful with it throughout forty six games, this was argued with Stuart Pearce’s reign, a fantastic start soon collapsed as Forest fans begrudged no plan B and a team that couldn’t handle situations when the going got tough.

The signings that Dougie Freeman has made so far should make Nottingham Forest more resilient and enable them to be ‘up for the fight’.

Jamie Ward, signed on a free transfer from fierce rival's Derby County, has a fiery temperament and a real desire to win. This could set out an example to his team mates and is the right type of character Forest need.

Ward also has a decent goal record for someone who doesn’t always play as a central striker. Considering the circumstances Nottingham Forest are in, it looks a good bit of business.

Add to that Matt Mills, who was once signed by Leicester for more than £5 Million. Mills knows Dougie Freeman well having played for him previously at Bolton.

He has lots of Championship experience and could be another inspired free transfer particularly as a squad member. These deals are unlikely to be hugely recognised by pundits and the media meaning the spotlight should very much be off Nottingham Forest this season.

Less pressure could see Forest quietly go about their business and maybe surprise a few doubters along the way.

Finally, the question mark over where the goals will come from will have to be answered.

Assombalonga was crucial for Forest, a natural finisher and athlete who was probably destined for the Premier League before his injury.

There are no guarantees he will be the same player as before so Forest can’t afford to rely on Congolese Striker when he returns.

Fortunately for Forest, goals could be found internally at the club. In previous seasons their midfielders have been able to find the net. Antonio, Lansbury, Reid, Osborn, Tesche, Ward and Burke all have proven in the past they can score goals so the reliability on a striker to constantly score may not seem as important as first thought. Forest’s current strikers include Blackstock and Fryatt and the youthful Tyler Walker.

Fryatt and Blackstock have found it difficult to put a run in the side due to bad injury records and whilst they both aren’t formidable in front of goal, they can both offer qualities to the side.

Forest will almost certainly need one more striker in. With the transfer embargo, options are very limited. Nicky Maynard is currently on trial with the club. A player who has really struggled for the last four or five years after his emphatic season for Bristol City, Maynard has never established himself at either West Ham or Cardiff since.

Behind a poor recent goal record though could be the player that once was for Bristol City. It will all need to click should he sign but he might be given more of a chance and the system Forest play could favour Maynard compared to when he played for West Ham or Cardiff who played more direct football.

A free transfer is less of a risk but giving Maynard the task of replacing Assombalonga could be a difficult one but that is the circumstances Nottingham Forest are working with currently. It could once again be a deciding factor in the success of the club this season.

At 13/2 (SkyBet) for promotion, not many will pick Nottingham Forest as serious contenders to get promoted but if the squad can keep relatively injury free, find consistency in their game and get the players firing to their full potential, Forest could emerge quietly as the team to watch out for this season!