Michael Dawson sends message to Nottingham Forest ahead of play-off final

After a successful season under the management of Steve Cooper, Nottingham Forest are now preparing themselves for Sunday, as they face Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final.

Huddersfield Town have experienced promotion to the top flight before and will be hoping they can replicate the experience this weekend.

However, former Forest defender Michael Dawson has urged Cooper’s side to take their opportunity when it comes.

Dawson had two spells with the Reds between 2001 and 2005 and then 2018 to 2021 before retiring.

However, it was with Hull City when Dawson got his promotion to the top flight in 2016 and he has passed on words of advice to his boyhood club as he told Nottinghamshire Live: “It’s special. It really, really is. It’s an opportunity to change their lives as players. And to get the club back to where it belongs, in my opinion.

“It’s been 23 years out of the Premier League, which is way too long. The fans are amazing. It’s a major football club which should be in the big-time.

“They have a chance to be heroes. That’s what it comes down to.

“I’ve played in the play-offs final with Hull City, who had only been out of the league for a era and bounced straight back. But the relief and joy is one of the best days you will ever experience as a footballer.

“Some of the guys might not get a better moment in their careers than getting the chance to go play in the Premier League. It’s life-changing, not just for the individual but for everyone at the club. I know what it’d be like for the staff as well.

“Huddersfield fans and players will be saying the same; they know what it’s like, because they’ve been in the Premier League recently and haven’t bene out of it for too long. They will know what it means,