Given the significant impact of some of Nottingham Forest’s other signings, James Ward-Prowse’s loan move from West Ham United may have gone unnoticed.
Ward-Prowse joined Forest on loan on transfer deadline day in the summer, but the Englishman has only started five Premier League games under Nuno Espirito Santo.
The form of fellow Englishman and recent signing Elliot Anderson has undoubtedly contributed to his lack of consistent minutes. Anderson joined Forest in the same window from Newcastle United and has struck the ground running, with Forest fans believing he deserves an England call-up.
The West Ham loanee has impressed in his limited appearances for the Forest, with Ward Prowse excelling against Luton in the FA Cup, completing 100% of his passes.
Ward-Prowse’s abilities have warmed him up to his Forest teammates, and he has acknowledged that he enjoys working in midfield alongside Ryan Yates.
Morgan Gibbs-White, another Forest midfielder who has loved working with Ward-Prowse, admits that his new teammate does fantastic things in training.
Morgan Gibbs-White on James Ward Prowse’s ‘amazing’ free kicks
Ward Prowse’s free-kick powers have been well-known in the football world for some time, but witnessing them in person is certainly a different experience, according to Gibbs-White.
Gibbs-White discussed Ward-Prowse’s unusual gift on Sky Sports’ Sticker Book Challenge series, saying: “I can’t put into words why he’s so good at it; he’s incredible.”
“We’ll do set pieces before the game; he’ll take one, score, and then walk away! […] Obviously, he would have practiced them a lot as a youngster, but since he’s been here, I haven’t seen him do them as much.
“I think he just knows exactly what he’s doing now as he’s rehearsed it that many times, he’s a freak of nature.”
Undoubtedly, the Forest coaching staff saw Ward-Prowse’s set-piece prowess as one of the primary reasons for bringing him to the City Ground, and Gibbs-White’s praise was likely shared throughout the squad.
Pat Nevin criticized Ward-Prowse in Forest’s loss to Arsenal, but his dead ball qualities remain him vital to Espirito Santo, which Premier League icon Gareth Bale has already commented on.
Gareth Bale believes James Ward-Prowse is the Premier League’s best-ever set piece taker.
The Premier League has produced an infinite number of world-class players, so to be at the top of any ranking list is enormously extraordinary.
When asked to list the Premier League’s finest free-kick takers of all time, Welsh icon Bale couldn’t pass over the on-loan Forest player.
Bale certainly believes in Ward-Prowse’s ability, ranking him ahead of himself, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, and David Beckham, the widely considered free-kick king.
Ward-Prowse is anticipated to continue at Forest in January, despite his lack of playing time under the Forest boss, giving fans hope that they will be able to witness the same potential that Gibbs-White and Bale have praised.
