Navas steals limelight on mixed weekend for January signings

LONDON : Nottingham Forest have signed a mind-boggling 29 players since the summer in their bid to ensure their return to the Premier League is not a short one but perhaps the most important will be Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

The former Real Madrid stopper was one of the most intriguing signings in a frenetic final few days of the Janaury tranfer window in which England's top-flight clubs spent record sums, with Chelsea alone splashing out almost 300 million pounds.

January signings can be hit and miss and it was a mixed weekend for new recruits.

Chelsea's British record signing Enzo Fernandez enjoyed an encouraging debut in his side's 0-0 draw with Fulham while Leicester City's Australia centre back Harry Souttar blotted his copybook with an own goal on his debut.

But Navas stole the show.

The three-times Champions League winner, loaned to Forest from Paris St Germain on deadline day, made a string of superb saves as his side sealed a crucial 1-0 win over Leeds United to push them further clear of the bottom three.

"Brilliant in the first half, outstanding and composed. The obvious talking points are the saves, and rightly so, he deserves all the credit for that," Forest manager Steve Cooper said of the 36-yer-old.

"But I loved his composure and game management and decision making, I really enjoyed that part of his performance. It was something that helped us win for sure.

"We've had a good few days with him where all he's shown is a real good work ethic, humility, desire to jump on board. We are really pleased he is here."

Argentina World Cup winner Fernandez, signed from Benfica for 107 million pounds, was on a hiding to nothing as he made his debut at home to local rivals Fulham, whose fans taunted him with chants of