Watford loanee leaves door open to potential Nottingham Forest return

Watford loanee Phillip Zinckernagel has left the door open to a potential move back to Nottingham Forest this summer, suggesting the decision on his future is likely to be made “after the season”. 

Zinckernagel joined on loan from the Hornets last summer and has been a mainstay in the Forest side this term – scoring five times and providing nine assists in 37 games.

The Norweigian winger looks set to play a significant role in the Reds’ push for promotion in the final weeks of the 2021/22 campaign but beyond that his future is somewhat unclear.

Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, Zinckernagel shed some light on the plans for the summer but left the door open to a potential return to The City Ground.

He said: “I haven’t really thought about it, to be fair. I try to stay as much as I can in the moment, being at Forest and be the best of myself here, and then maybe take a decision after the season.

“I guess it kind of depends what happens to Forest and what happens to Watford as well. But the plan is obviously I’ll go back to Watford, that’s where I have a contract, that’s where I am being paid and where I’m supposed to be. But I haven’t thought too much about it.

“I always try to show the best of myself. In football, you never know. You can’t really go out and play and think you are safe somewhere. You’ve always got to perform and show your level, otherwise there will be players taking your spot.

“At the same time, I’m just trying to help Forest get into the top-six and the Premier League. That’s my goal right now, and then we’ll see what’s going to happen in the summer.”

Zinckernagel joined Watford from Bodø/Glimt in January 2021 and signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with the club, meaning he’s under contract until 2026.

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