James McAtee spent most of last season on the edge of the Nottingham Forest team, but the club’s own view is that he left enough behind to suggest more. He played only 287 Premier League minutes, made just two league starts and still led Forest’s under-300-minute group for chances created, with six, while also topping that bracket for ball carries with 47.
The background matters too. Forest were part of the £180m spending spree that brought McAtee in on a five-year deal worth about £30m after England Under-21s won Euro 2025 in Bratislava. For a player with that sort of outlay, one league assist and so little time on the pitch is not a finished product, it is an unfinished case.
McAtee's case for more minutes
The strongest internal view is simple enough: McAtee was underused rather than exposed. One source at Forest believes he will "explode", such is his natural talent, and that is not a wild thing to say when the numbers show he did useful work in tiny bursts.
His six chances created came in just 287 league minutes. His 47 ball carries over 560 metres were also the best among Forest players with fewer than 300 top-flight minutes. Those are not the figures of someone who vanished when the game reached him.
Sean Dyche's apology after doubting him, following McAtee coming second in a squad running exercise, is a decent reminder that fitness and work rate have not been the issue. Forest expect him back for pre-season in peak shape after training every day on a specific programme with his personal strength and conditioning coach.
Anderson's exit and Forest's midfield picture
Elliot Anderson's expected move to Manchester City changes the conversation, but not in a neat one-for-one way. BBC analysis said Anderson does his best work from deep, with McAtee coming further forward, so there is no pressure for him to step up and fill the gap once Anderson leaves.
That distinction matters because Forest are not looking at McAtee as a direct replacement. They are looking at him as a separate creative option, one who started nine of Forest's 16 Europa League games on the run to the semi-finals and showed enough in Europe to keep the summer door open.
Forest finished 16th in the Premier League on 44 points, so this is not a side that can afford to waste a player with McAtee's profile. A fuller pre-season and a clearer role could give him the minutes his first year never did.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →