Nottingham Forest send message to Keinan Davis after confirming transfer plans

Keinan Davis has officially returned to Aston Villa at the end of his loan spell with Nottingham Forest.

The 24-year-old striker enjoyed a hugely successful stint at the City Ground with five goals in 18 matches helping Forest win promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs. Davis has become a popular figure with Forest supporters and led their celebrations in Nottingham city centre last month.

Forest confirmed their released and retained list on Friday morning and posted a message of thanks to Davis and their other four loan players. The club statement said: "Our five loan players, Keinan Davis, Philip Zinckernagel, Max Lowe, Djed Spence and James Garner, have also returned to their parent clubs upon the expiry of their loan deals on Trentside. The club would like to thank these players for their excellent contribution in helping us win promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years."

Forest have released Tobias Figueiredo, Gaetan Bong and Carl Jenkinson at the end of their contracts, but the Reds are in talks with ex-Villa striker Lewis Grabban over a contract extension. Grabban, now 34, was replaced in Forest's starting line-up by Davis in the second half of the season.

Forest are believed to be interested in signing Davis permanently, but Villa will be able to command a significant fee after the striker's success in the second tier. However, as things stand, Steven Gerrard plans to take a closer look at Davis and Cameron Archer - who has enjoyed a similarly successful loan spell in the second tier at Preston North End - when Villa return to pre-season training next month.