Matt Derbyshire played his last Athletic game as his three month loan spell came to an end in the 2-0 reverse at home to Swindon yesterday. The 26-year-old striker admits that he is returning to mother club Nottingham Forest with an uncertain future.
With first team Forest appearances limited Derbyshire said, “If you are not playing regular football, you can quite easily be forgotten which is what has happened to me over the last couple of years. I had been out through injury and nobody therefore knows where you are and what you are doing. I am grateful I have had the chance to play 20 games. It has been nice to score a decent number of goals and I have also stayed fit so there has been a lot of positives to take from my time here.”
Derbyshire admits that it will now be a case of returning to Forest and working hard. He went on, “My first choice would be something permanent but, if that is not possible, and the door is still open here, I will be straight back. It has been great to work with the gaffer. He puts his arm around your shoulder and is a great man manager. If I ever become a manager, I would mould myself on him.”