Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall has ruled out an imminent return to Ibrox following the expiration of his temporary deal with Rangers.
Having moved north of the border in August, the 22-year-old centre-back became a key part of Steven Gerrard’s team, making 21 of his 32 appearances for the club in the Scottish Premiership.
Speaking to the Nottingham Post, however, Worrall insisted that his next focus was to try and earn a place in his hometown club’s first team.
“I am looking forward to being back. I have missed home, I have missed Forest and I cannot wait to put on a red shirt again,” he said.
“I would not leave Forest for Rangers, no. I liked it there, but I am a Forest man, aren’t I?
“I still have a couple of years left on my contract here and I want to stay here for as long as I can. I hope to be in the starting XI on the first day of the new season, with Nottingham Forest. That is my aim.”
OPINION
It is good that Worrall has left on good terms and that there are no hard feelings. After all, why should there be? The defender is a lifelong Forest fan and after being deemed unable to break through to the first team last season, he went away to Rangers and saw his stock rise immensely – as Forest fans would agree. He was excellent in a Rangers shirt throughout the season and after putting in a regular stint for the side, he now looks ready and raring to go to try and force his way into the Forest first team. Worrall’s move to Rangers was one that benefited both clubs massively; while Forest let him go, the centre-back more than proved his worth and helped the Ibrox club massively. Now, he will return to Forest and will be in a much better state of mind to try and get a first-team place, having developed greatly north of the border.