Nottingham Forest’s goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey, received some much-needed playing time recently as he took the field for 45 minutes during Wales’ convincing 4-0 victory over Gibraltar at The Racecourse Ground.
Hennessey had been sidelined for Forest since his last appearance on the final day of the 2022/23 season against Crystal Palace. He missed the preseason due to an injury and is presently considered the third-choice goalkeeper at the City Ground.
Hennessey would have undoubtedly welcomed the opportunity to showcase his skills in front of a Welsh crowd, especially as he competes with Danny Ward for the starting position and hopes to be selected when Wales faces Croatia over the weekend.
In his recent performance, Hennessey had a comfortable outing, making just seven touches on the ball, as reported by Sofa Score.
He maintained a 6/10 rating from Wales Online, and they noted, “Can’t actually remember him touching the ball after coming on at half-time.”
Hennessey didn’t face any shots on goal, as Wales emerged as dominant victors. However, the upcoming crucial qualifier against Croatia is expected to pose a stiffer challenge.
Despite his limited playing time, Hennessey continues to play a vital role in the City Ground dressing room. Nottingham Forest has retained the 36-year-old for the season, recognizing his positive influence and character, which is especially valuable given the presence of numerous young players in Steve Cooper’s squad. Nevertheless, Hennessey is unlikely to see action for Forest this season, as Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos are now the primary goalkeeping duo for the club.
Hennessey understands that his contributions this season will primarily be behind the scenes, with his focus on training and providing competition for the two first-choice goalkeepers at the City Ground.
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