Battle for the Right Back Spot.

Prior to the season starting, many fans were upset with the new that John Brayford had been sold to way Cardiff City. A fee of £1.5m rising to £2m was agreed and Brayford was on his way to the Premier League side.

Having played under Nigel Clough at Burton Albion he then moved on to Crewe and then was re-signed by Clough for Derby. He became an instant hit with his link up play with whoever was p,axing on the right wing for The Rams and went on to become a player of the Season winner.

Brayford isn't an easy sort of player to replace. Tom Naylor filled in whilst he was injured a couple of seasons ago, but a natural successor was needed not just to cover, but to step up to it when he eventually moved on.

Last season it became apparent that Keiron Freeman, a product of Nottingham Forest's academy was going to either face another spell in their reserves or be loaned out possibly to Notts County again should he have signed a new contract with the reds. Understandably this must have frustrated the Wales Under-21 international and rather than sign a new contract, he joined Derby.

Despite managers singing his praises during his loan spells, he was not seen as a player ready to step it up and become a first team regular in Nottingham.

Initially he was mainly used in the Under-21 / Reserve team for Derby, but he played a few cameo's from the subs bench and then covered at both full back positions when either Gareth Roberts or John Brayford were injured.

When Nigel Clough brought in Tottenham's Adam Smith on a full season loan many thought that Freeman may miss out on staking his claim for the Right Back spot, but after a good solid game against Blackburn he held the position for the away trip to Brighton and had a great game.

It might be frustrating for Smith, but the competition for a vital position in the team is healthy and is indeed showing the depth in a position that many thought we would struggle to fill.