Elliot Anderson lay prone on the floor, surrounded by a huddle of joyful team-mates, having just summoned his most significant touch of the ball yet in a Nottingham Forest shirt.

Elliot Anderson is established as one of the leading midfielders in the Premier League and the past three weeks have demonstrated the strength of character he has to go with his rare talent.

Forest were clobbered 4-0 by Aston Villa on Thursday in an abrupt end to the Europa League semifinal tie they began with a promising 1-0 first leg win at home.