Given the remarkable impact of some of Nottingham Forest’s other signings, the loan capture of James Ward-Prowse from West Ham United has perhaps gone under the radar.
Forest signed Ward-Prowse on loan on transfer deadline day in the summer but the Englishman has only started five Premier League games so far for Nuno Espirito Santo
An obvious factor in his lack of sustained minutes has been the form of fellow Englishman and recent signee Elliot Anderson. Joining Forest in the same window, Anderson signed from Newcastle United and has truly hit the ground running, leading to Forest fans thinking Anderson deserves an England call-up.
The West Ham loanee has impressed in the few opportunities he has had in the Forest squad, with Ward Prowse starring against Luton in the FA Cup with a 100% pass accuracy in the contest.
His abilities have warmed Ward-Prowse to his Forest teammates and him to them as Ward-Prowse admitted to enjoying working with Ryan Yates in midfield.
Another Forest midfielder who has enjoyed working with Ward-Prowse is Morgan Gibbs-White, who admitted that his new teammate does something incredible in trainingMorgan Gibbs-White on James Ward Prowse’s ‘incredible’ free kicks
The footballing world has known about Ward Prowse’s free-kick abilities for a while now, but seeing them in person is clearly a different experience judging by what Gibbs-White has said.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Sticker Book Challenge series, Gibbs-White touched on Ward-Prowse’s unique talent, saying: “I can’t put into words why he is so good at it, he’s incredible.
“We’ll do set pieces before the game he’ll take one, score and just walk off! […] Obviously, he would’ve practised them loads and loads as a kid but since he’s been here I haven’t really seen him practice it that 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 would’ve seen Ward-Prowse’s set-piece brilliance as one of the key reasons to bring him to the City Ground, with Gibbs-White’s admiration likely felt throughout the squad.
Pat Nevin criticised Ward-Prowse in Forest’s loss to Arsenal but his dead ball abilities keep him useful to Espirito Santo, something he’s so good at that Premier League icon Gareth Bale has commented on Ward-Prowse in the past.Gareth Bale thinks James Ward-Prowse is the Premier League’s best-ever set-piece taker
The number of world-class players that have graced the Premier League is endless, so to be listed at the top of any chart that ranks them is hugely impressive.
When asked to rank the Premier League’s top free-kick takers of all time, Welsh legend Bale couldn’t look past the on-loan Forest star.
Ranking Ward-Prowse over himself, as well as Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and widely-regarded free-kick king, David Beckham, Bale clearly feels the same as Gibbs-White does about the abilities of the English midfielder.
Ward-Prowse is expected to stay at Forest in January despite his lack of game time under the Forest manager, giving hope to fans that they may get to experience the very ability that Gibbs-White and Bale have lauded
