That's full back well-covered. Now we must find a centre-back

Yesterday I said it was unlikely that Forest would try and bring back Gonzalo Jara Reyes following the signing of Eric Lichaj. But today we have learnt that the Chilean defender has now agreed to a one-year deal!

This seems to indicate that Lichaj will play at left back with Jara on the other side. It means we are now very well covered in both full back positions as Lichaj, Jara, and Greg Halford can all do a good job both at left and right back. And then we've got Chris Cohen and Dan Harding who can play on the left, too. Billy Davies won't know what's hit him with so many players at the Club who are comfortable playing in that position!

So now that right back is sufficiently covered, I can't see us trying to sign Sam Hutchinson again, even if Davies said he wasn't averse to the idea a few months ago. Perhaps he was just being diplomatic, but we can't afford to carry a player who is available for about five matches a season!

Now we must focus on signing a top quality centre-half. At the moment we are looking very weak in that department. Halford has a reputation as being a jack of all trades, and was moved about in defence all last season, playing in every position, but he looks most comfortable at centre-back and with his statuesque frame is ideally suited to playing in the middle. If we can find someone good to partner him, our back four will start to look much more impenetrable.

Once we do sign another central defender, Danny Collins will have to be content with a place on the bench at most. He's okay as back-up, but nothing more, and he's certainly not captain material, especially if he's not playing regularly!

There is also Jamaal Lascelles, who has been bigged up as one for the future, but he has yet to make much progress on the first team scene at Forest. He made it into the England-u20 world cup squad this summer, so maybe next season will be his year. He turns 20 in the autumn so he will be keen to get some first team action soon, whether that's at Forest, or perhaps elsewhere on loan.