Nottingham Forest attacker Zach Clough has delivered rather cryptic message on Instagram, with the 24-year-old having been the subject of speculation over his potential future this month.

Clough has struggled to make any impression for Nottingham Forest so far this campaign, having been frozen out of the first team picture by Sabri Lamouchi, who has preferred the likes of Sammy Ameobi, Joe Lolley, Tiago Silva, Joao Carvalho and Albert Adomah ahead of the attacker so far this campaign.

The 24-year-old has not made a single appearance for the Reds in the Championship since the 2017/18 season, where he played 13 games failing to score or register an assist, before being sent out on loan to his former club Bolton Wanderers and then also being shipped out on loan to League One Rochdale last term.

The attacker failed to really impress during his loan spell with Rochdale last season, making just nine goalless League One appearances, and returned to the City Ground in the summer hoping to potentially impress Lamouchi enough to earn a place in the side this term.

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That has not happened and it looks very unlikely that Clough will be able to force his way back into Forest's plans any time soon, which could suggest a move away could be the best option for the 24-year-old to go and get his career back on track.

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Clough has been linked with a potential move to League One Sunderland, with the Black Cats looking to boost their attacking options and the attacker has previously worked with manager Phil Parkinson during his time in charge of Bolton.

The 24-year-old's latest Instagram post, suggests that he could potentially be awaiting the chance to secure a move away from the City Ground, with Clough's one-worded message "patience" suggesting he is having to bide his time during the transfer window.

The verdict

Clough has certainly endured a very frustrating season on a personal level with the attacker fully aware he is unlikely to find himself back amongst Lamouchi's plans during the rest of the campaign, with the Frenchman deciding to look to his other attacking options ahead of the 24-year-old.

The attacker really needs to make a move somewhere where he can be given more regular game time, with his career having gone off track over the last few seasons since he made the move to the City Ground from Bolton in January 2017, having barely played any real first team football in the last few years.

Clough arrived at Nottingham Forest with a growing reputation die to the form he had shown at Bolton, where he had shown glimpses of having the potential to develop into a real consistent performer in the Championship, but the move has not worked out for either party.

It will be interesting to see whether the Reds do manage to secure a move away for Clough before the end of the month, with the attacker's future certainly in the long-term appearing to be away from the City Ground - and it will be vital he uses any possible move as a spring board to re-launch his career.