Shorey signing delights Davies

Reds boss welcomes the arrival of England international full-back

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 25th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Shorey signing delights Davies

Shorey: Timely arrival

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Billy Davies feels loan star Nicky Shorey will be a 'fantastic addition' to his Nottingham Forest squad.

The Aston Villa full-back has moved to the City Ground on a short-term deal which is set to run until the end of the year.

With Forest currently short on numbers at left-back, his arrival has come as a welcome boost to Davies and his play-off-chasing side.

The Reds boss admits he is still keen to bring in permanent additions during the January transfer window, but is delighted to have Shorey on board to help provide cover of a Premier League standard.

"I am still against having to use the loan market at this stage in the season. But sometimes needs must, sometimes you have to take an opportunity," Davies told the club's official website.

"We had the chance to bring in cover in that particular area with a quality player from Villa. We are fortunate that he is not first-choice for them at the minute and we had the opportunity to bring him in.

"I am obviously delighted. There is no doubt about his ability and what he has done with his career. I have admired him since his days at Reading and he has progressed into the national side."

Real quality

Forest have been forced to drop Chris Cohen, a natural left winger, back into defence over recent weeks, but he is suspended for the weekend meeting with Doncaster and could have left Davies facing a selection dilemma had Shorey not been drafted in.

"With our problems this weekend with having Cohen out, there is no doubt he is a fantastic addition to the squad," he added.

"We all know that left-back has been an Achilles heel for us this season and, to be fair, we had asked Chris to drop back in there and he has done a very good job.

"We knew that over a long, hard season, with suspensions and injuries, it would be a problem area.

"We have Joel Lynch who can drop in there but I feel that his long-term future is at centre-back.

"I wanted to add an out-and-out full-back with real quality to the squad."