Scouting: Matty Cash

Ahead of the 2019/2020 season, Matty Cash was considered a left-winger/central midfielder for the Nottingham outfit, before injuries to Carl Jenkinson and Tendayi Darikwa left the academy graduate starting in the right back position for Sabri Lamouchi. Rather than let the position change affect his performance negatively, he has taken his game to the next level.

Playing 32 of 36 league outings as a right back, Cash has secured the position as his own and now starts ahead of both ex-Premier League players. Having his joint best season in terms of goals and assists, (joint with last season) Cash has truly pushed his game to another level and was recently linked with a move to AC Milan. 4 Man of the Match awards from the right back position is also nothing to be sniffed at.

3 goals and 4 assists in 3,000 league minutes from right back can be considered a very good return and leaves Cash 3rd in the squad for goals as well as assists. He has played the most minutes in the Forest squad and that just shows Lamouchi's faith in the 22-year old. He contributes 1.1 of Forest's 13.4 shots per 90 minutes.

Moving on to analyse his defensive performances, for a winger-turned-wingback, Cash commits 2.8 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per match, partnered with 2.8 clearances per 90. These are very positive numbers for a rightback, especially for someone having only just converted there at the beginning of the season, but it only demonstrates Cash's versatility.

1.1 key passes per 90 is higher than that of Helder Costa at Leeds United and Bryan Mbeumo, part of the famous BMW trident at Brentford. It cannot be denied that at current, Cash is one of the best outlets in the Forest squad, making him one of their best assests. Valued at £4.32m by Transfermarkt, he was recently being monitored by West Ham in the January transfer window of the 2019/2020 season.

A move to a lower-tier Premier League club could be on the cards for Cash if Forest don't get promoted this season, as they sat occupying a play-off place before coronavirus put a hold on football. A move to a club like Burnley wouldn't be the worst transfer, as Phil Bardsley is now 34 and Matt Lowton having just hit 30. Whether Sean Dyche's style of football would suit Cash is another question.

Alternatively, Everton are rumoured to be wanting to move on Djibril Sidibe after some woeful performances this season, and Cash certainly wouldn't be a bad signing for the Toffee's. He would certainly fit into Ancelotti's mould at Goodison Park, with the wing-backs demanded to move forward and attack up the pitch, Cash would surely prosper, and he wouldn't cost a bucketload.

The allegedly interested West Ham could also be a move to push Cash further in his career, as he would certainly get game time, what with Ryan Fredericks being quite injury prone and Moyes not trusting 35 year old veteran Zabaleta. However, it would be interesting to monitor the competition between Cash and West Ham academy graduate Jeremy Ngakia, who had just been given his chance to shine before coronavirus pressed pause on the league.

Alternatively, he could stay with the Nottingham side were they to secure promotion to the Premier League. He could play a big part in their fight for survival, pushing opposition fullbacks back in to their own half whilst also putting in a defensive shift.

Either way, it's best to key an eye on this one. He could be giving some Premier League sides a torrid time, sooner or later.