Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien seals loan move to DC United

Nottingham Forest have confirmed that midfielder Lewis O’Brien has completed a loan move to Major League Soccer club DC United.

The 24-year-old has barely featured for the Tricky Trees since joining from Huddersfield Town last summer, starting just six of his 13 Premier League appearances.

Following a massive squad overhaul, O’Brien found himself way down the pecking order and a loan move could be what he needs to get his career back on track.

O’Brien’s last appearance came in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup semi-final when he replaced Morgan Gibbs-White in the 73rd minute.

The midfielder’s search for regular playing time has seen him join the North American club, where he will remain until the end of the season.

“Lewis deserves this opportunity to go and play football,” Forest manager Cooper said after the deal was finalised.

“Everyone knows about his situation, so now he is able to go and get some games under his belt between now and the end of the season. It will be a real positive for him, and we wish him well.”

O’Brien has been through quite the ordeal in his bid to leave City Ground for regular game time.

The midfielder came close to joining West Bromwich Albion in the dying embers of the January transfer window, but the move never materialised.

O’Brien was then one step away from joining Blackburn Rovers on loan, but the Championship club failed to submit paperwork before the transfer deadline.

Rovers claimed there were ‘mitigating reasons’ why the deal was not completed and submitted an appeal to overturn the decision, but it was to no avail.

However, the American transfer window offered an escape route for the English midfielder, who will be eager to put the transfer fiasco behind him.