Ayala Leaves on Loan - Replacement Likely?

Chris Hughton yesterday confirmed that Daniel Ayala had joined Nottingham Forrest on a season-long loan.

The talented Spanish youngster made 10 appearance for the club last season, following his £800,000 move from Liverpool.

Ayala said, "I'm really looking forward to starting to play and starting to train with the other lads.

"I found out about Forest's interest about three days ago when Norwich told me I wasn't going to be playing too much, so I decided the best thing to do was go on loan and play football.

"I was a little bit disappointed at first because I want to play in the Premier League but I know how big a club Forest is and I'm looking forward to playing for them."

On the face of it, this is a bit of a strange decision as Hughton is hardly overrun with centre backs. With Michael Turner`s signing last week, it leaves Ryan Bennett, Elliott Ward and the previously unfancied Leon Barnett as natural replacements for Ayala.

Russell Martin would offer commitment across the back-line in abundance, but is the only fit right back at the club following Whittaker`s injury in pre-season.

With the departure of Adam Drury and Zak Whitbread in addition to Ayala, the defence is arguably weaker than the end of last season, and our defending was hardly our strong point - with only 3 clean sheets in the league over the course of the entire season. Ironically the strongest back four last year was arguably Ayala, Whitbread, Drury and Naughton, all of whom have now left.

Perhaps Hughton has a plan up his sleeve. We are looking very lightweight in the full-back areas now, so perhaps he has to move Ayala off the wage bill to fund a move for Kyle Naughton, and a replacement for Drury. Lappin is good as versatile cover in a variety of positions, but has said himself that he does not like to place as a left back.

With Barnett looking out of his depth last season, and Ward failing to convince on a number of occasions, this leaves only Turner and Bennett with the quality to perhaps put a sustainable partnership together.

Let`s hope Hughton has a plan….

OTBC