Nottingham Forest transfer decision explained as striker admits he needed to get his 'mojo back'
by Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveStriker Lyle Taylor was determined not to sit on the sidelines “and rot” when he found himself out of favour at Nottingham Forest.
The front man spent three years at the City Ground after signing for the Reds in the summer of 2020. His spell at the club included a period out on loan at Birmingham City as he went in search of regular game time.
Taylor’s switch to the West Midlands came midway through Forest’s promotion-winning campaign. But although he was absent for the final push, he is fondly remembered by Reds fans for the role he played in the first half of 2021/22 - not least his added-time brace to complete a remarkable turnaround at Bristol City which proved to be a turning point that term.
The 34-year-old says his stint with the Blues, who were managed by Lee Bowyer at the time, helped him rediscover his “mojo”. After leaving Forest as a free agent 12 months ago, he is now plying his trade at Colchester United.
“I needed to go out and play football,” Taylor told SkyBet of his decision to leave the Reds on loan. “I wasn’t being given an opportunity to play regularly (at Forest) and it was pretty much a decision where I needed to play football, because if I don’t and I just sit here and rot then I’m not getting anywhere.
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“Also, there is a physiological side to it where you become a footballer to play football because you’ve always loved playing football. There comes a point where you’re just sat there twiddling your thumbs, thinking what am I even doing?
“I went out and played under a manager I knew, who had a lot of respect and time for me. I got my mojo back and got back into it (football), which is as important as anything else in football – to enjoy what you do and being able to get up and go into work with a smile on your face.”