It may have taken until mid-April but Gio Reyna has finally started a game for Nottingham Forest after joining on loan from Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window. He also had an immediate impact.
The 21-year-old went seven games without ever playing more than 30 minutes in the Premier League and FA Cup, but the US international made his full debut count with an assist from a corner.
Morgan Gibbs-White headed home after Reyna’s floating right-footed corner and although Jose Sa could have done better in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ goal, it was a big moment for the American and his team just before half-time.
Gibbs-White’s goal – against his former club – was the catalyst for Forest’s fightback from 1-0 to 2-1 at the City Ground on Saturday, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s men taking the lead through Danilo Oliveira just before the hour mark . although it took Matheus Cunha just five minutes to get back on level terms at 2–2, with the scoring for the match ending there.
It’s been a tough start to life for Reyna in England, who has had to make do without the regular minutes he initially expected to get, but this is one way to ensure he gets more chances to impress from the start in the remaining matches remaining. this campaign.
USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter will certainly be keeping a close eye on developments for Reyna and a number of other Americans abroad between now and the end of the season with Copa America on home soil to build a roster for.
