Paul Heckingbottom opens up on Max Lowe's Nottingham Forest loan and Sheffield United decision

Paul Heckingbottom is delighted with Max Lowe's form at Nottingham Forest this season.

The Sheffield United defender is on loan at the City Ground and has been in sensational form for Steve Cooper's side.

The 24-year-old is rated as the best left back in the Championship, among the top five best performing players in the division and has made the most tackles.

He is unable to feature against his parent club tomorrow in a mouthwatering promotion clash at Bramall Lane, which will come as a blow to Cooper who will be without one of his best players.

Heckingbottom is well aware of his progress and has kept in touch with the former Derby man.

Jack Lester was in the stands recently to watch him play and report back and Heckingbottom says he is really pleased with his form right now.

"We have kept in touch with him, phone calls, text messages and things like that," he told Yorkshire Live.

"Jack went to watch him the other day.

"He's been doing well. The injury came at a bad time but he came back, got a great assist a couple of games in and he's back now playing, which is where he wants to be.

"I know they are really pleased with him as well, so he's giving a really good account of himself."

With the Blades boss wanting two players per position at first team level, his return at the end of the season will mean the left-back spot will be over subscribed ahead of the 2022-23 campaign with Rhys Norrington-Davies and Enda Stevens also on the books.

It means three players will be battling it out for the two spots, leaving Heckingbottom with a decision to make over the future of at least one of those, which is something he admits will be the case.

"Yeah, definitely," he added. "But it's a good place to be in.

"Ideally, you would