The Nottingham Forest players with a point to prove in pre-season friendlies

The start of the Premier League season is now less than a month away, and the battle is on to earn a place in Nottingham Forest’s starting line-up.

With Taiwo Awoniyi, Dean Henderson, Giulian Biancone and Moussa Niakhate having been added to the squad - and more transfer business still to be done - the competition to make the first XI is fierce. Pre-season, then, is a chance for players to catch the eye of boss Steve Cooper.

The Reds are currently in Spain on a training camp and will round off the week with their first friendly of the summer. They take on Coventry City at the Pinatar Arena in Alicante on Friday evening.

That match will primarily be about building up fitness, but it is also the start of a period in which players will be desperate to impress Cooper. We take a look at some of those who will be particularly keen to stand out.

Generally had to settle for a substitutes’ role last season as the head coach was fairly consistent in his starting picks. That made it tough to really make an impact, and the winger’s campaign probably didn’t pan out as he’d hoped, from a personal perspective.

If he can rediscover his form of old, Lolley can still have plenty to offer. He’s experienced the top-flight before, with Huddersfield Town, and will want to have a taste of it again. But, as Forest target more attacking resources, he could face a big few weeks.

Made his debut in the final game of the regular season, at Hull City, and showed plenty of promise. He’d been doing well for the Under-23s since his January move before that, too.

The Reds have strengthened their defensive ranks, however, making it even more difficult to break into the side. Cooper had worked with Panzo before, so already knew what he could do when he