Sleeping giants Nottingham Forest have been out of the big time for over 10 years now and the memories of players such as Roy Keane, Stuart Pearce and Des Walker gracing the hallowed City Ground turf are starting to fade.

In recent years Forest have struggled for consistency in the dugout with a high turnover of managers and with the current chairman looking to sell the club, it seems that the turbulent times off the pitch will continue for the foreseeable future.

However under the stewardship of new manager Phillippe Montanier, Forest fans will be hoping the new man can make an impact and steer them to a successful season.

There is no doubting that there is quality amongst the Forest side, and if the team gels together under the new regime then there is no reason as to why the can't mount a promotion push next season.

This article takes a look at THREE players who will form the core of the club next season...

 

Matt Mills

Matt Mills was a key part of Nottingham Forests back four last season, he made 42 appearances for the club throughout the last campaign and chipped in with a very handy five goals from his centre back position.

At the age of 30, Mills is a very experienced commanding figure in the back four and is a leader both on and off the pitch, he is very much an aggressive no nonsense defender.

In his earlier days Mills was capped by the England national team at Under 18 and 19 teams, he also received a call up to the under-21's although he didn't feature for the team.

In his senior professional career, Mills has made over 350 appearances, enjoying spells with the likes of Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Reading and also the now Premier League champions Leicester City.

Mills has played the majority of his career in the 2nd tier of English football, and has all the know how and experience for the younger players in the team to call on when times are tough.

Henri Lansbury

Henri Lansbury is someone who during his teenage years was tipped by many pundits to reach the very top and be a future England international, although he hasn't quite fulfilled that potential as of yet.

There is no doubting that Lansbury is a player of great quality with incredible technical ability, and at the age of 25, he still has plenty of time to reach his true potential.

Over the past transfer windows Lansbury has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League however a move has yet to materialise.

He is a key figure in this Forest side and is the creative spark that makes them tick, he has great passing ability and excellent vision, he has good dribbling technique and strikes fear into defenders with his ability to rocket a stinging shot at the goalkeeper from almost anywhere in the oppositions half.

The former Arsenal trainee signed for Forest in the summer of 2012 when he signed a four year deal, since then he has gone on to make 128 appearances for the club and has scored 26 goals in the process. I

t is clear that if Forest are to get themselves anywhere near the play-off places in the forthcoming campaign then they will need this man at his creative best.

Britt Assombalonga

Britt Assombalonga had the most frustrating season of his career last time out as he only made 4 appearances due to injury, on the 11th February 2015 Assombalonga suffered a knee injury which was estimated to keep him out for a minimum of a year.

After suffering 14 months out with the injury Assombalonga finally made his return towards the back end of last season, where he appeared as a 84th minute substitute in a draw against Blackburn Rovers, much to the delight of the Forest faithful.

In the final game of last season Assombalonga scored his first goal for around one and half years when he scored the winner against MK Dons.

Much is expected of Assombalonga next season and a fully fit and confident Assombalonga is a threat to any team, he is a nightmare to defend against with his movement, power and pace making him almost impossible to defend against when he is on form.

In his first season with Forest he had a good campaign, making 32 appearances and scoring 15 goals, many Forest fans will be hopeful he can replicate and surpass that sort of form in the coming campaign.