Over a friendly cup of coffee, Martin O’Neill assured Joe Worrall that he not only has a future at Nottingham Forest - but that he can expect to have a part to play next season.
A season-long loan at Glasgow Rangers was an invaluable learning experience for the defender - but it was not, initially, where he wanted to be.
The fierce competition for places at the City Ground was a significant influence as then Reds boss Aitor Karanka opted to allow him to depart. That battle has only intensified in the meantime, as Worrall realigns his focus on securing that first team return he craves, under O’Neill.
The 22-year-old is one of six senior central defenders already on the books - and there remains a chance that there could still be new additions.
Here Paul Taylor takes a look at how the Reds defensive options might shape up for the coming campaign - and at where O’Neill might yet look to strengthen further.
Tobias Figueiredo: There seems to be a growing tradition in Portugal of producing no nonsense central defenders - and Figueiredo fits into that category perfectly.
The 25-year-old came through the ranks at Sporting and is, unsurprisingly, comfortable on the ball. He can play.
But Figueiredo also has a physical strength - and a commitment to fulfilling the bread and butter duties in the centre of defence, by winning headers and making tackles with a robust, aggressive attitude.
Only injury prevented him from making more of an impact, with a simple dead leg evolving into a far more serious blood clot, which ensured he started only 11 Championship games last season.
Figueiredo is yet to play a single minute of first team football in 2019 - but is equipped to play a big part, if he can stay fit.
Alexander Milosevic: As free agent signings go, the Swedish international must qualify as one of the best to have been lured to the City Ground in recent years.
Did not look entirely comfortable when initially asked to play as a left-sided central defender early on, but has impressed since moving onto the right side.
The former AIK player is composed on the ball and has steadily adapted to the physical, combative demands of Championship football.
The 27-year-old made 11 starts and two sub appearances in the league, scoring a memorable goal at Middlesbrough along the way.
A class act who, if he can continue to get to grips with English football as he has done so far, will surely have a role to play again when the action resumes.
Michael Dawson: There was always going to be a slight risk involved in signing a player who was 34 this time last summer - but given that he had started 40 Championship games for Hull during the previous 2017/18 campaign, it did not look to be a huge gamble.
But a hamstring problem ruled him out for a few months late in Karanka’s tenure and Dawson’s desire to impress new boss O’Neill backfired, as he suffered a relapse of the problem in one of his first training sessions, ruling him out for another three months and effectively ending his season.
If Dawson can shake off the problem this summer - and there is no reason why he can’t - his performances in the eight starts he made for the Reds, following his return to the club, suggested he still has the quality to contribute.
Some of his passing out from the back was a joy to behold.
But, even if he does end up playing a more peripheral role, his influence around the dressing room is still sufficient to make him a useful character to have around.
Joe Worrall: At 22, the academy product remains very much part of the next generation - but it is also entirely fair to describe him as being ‘old school’ at the same time.
It says a lot that Sean Dyche - the Burnley manager and a man who forged a decent career of his own as a central defender who would fit into that bracket - is a big fan of Worrall, with Forest previously turning down a big money bid for him from the Premier League club.
And the decision to allow him to go out on loan, to Rangers, did seem a curious one at the time, given that he had already transitioned from being a young man with potential into being a player who looked ready to play regular Championship football.
But his experience playing under Steven Gerrard, will see Worrall return to the City Ground as an improved player - and as a man who O’Neill has clearly stated will have a part to play under him.
Worrall has ambitions to captain Forest in the future - and to lead them into the Premier League. Working alongside somebody like Dawson will only help him become better equipped to face that challenge, in the same way that playing alongside Des Walker helped Dawson evolve at the start of his own career.
Yohan Benalouane: The Tunisan defender has already earned himself cult status.
The lunging, brave slide to attack the ball and steer it into the back of the net for the only goal of the game against arch rivals Derby would have been enough to secure that on it’s own.
And somehow the mask he was wearing at the time - to protect a broken cheekbone which might have sidelined other players - only added to the sense of drama, as the former Leicester man stood, arms outstretched, amid riotous celebrations.
The 32-year-old, like Milosevic, was a timely addition - becoming O’Neill’s first signing, a few days after his appointment, at a time when Forest were in the midst of a real defensive injury crisis.
Benalouane was doubtless a valuable addition, but his committed nature did not always work in his favour, with O’Neill admitting that Forest had to work hard to convince the defender that it was not wise to challenge for every single ball - particularly those he was not likely to win.
Benalouane’s enthusiasm on that front ensured he was sent off twice and booked six times in just 14 appearances for the Reds. And overcoming those disciplinary woes will be vital, if he is going to establish himself as a regular in the side again.
Michael Hefele: The self-styled ‘Bavarian Lion’ gave some of the most entertaining pre-match press conferences of last season - and there can be no doubting his character or commitment.
The big German’s desire to repeat the success he had with Huddersfield - in winning promotion to the top flight - was evident each and every time he spoke.
And there were positive, important performances from Hefele, before he saw his season ended by an unfortunate Achilles injury on January 1, against Leeds.
But there were also a few shaky moments amid his 13 Championship starts and two sub appearances - and Karanka was understood to be already pondering whether to move Hefele on, prior to his own departure.
O’Neill will want to forge his own opinion on the 28-year-old, when pre-season begins. But Hefele’s first challenge will be to overcome the latest in a run of injury set-backs, which have hampered his career in recent years.
Jack Robinson: The former QPR man is Forest’s best left back - and arguably their best left-sided central defender as well, particularly as part of a back three.
If O’Neill kicks-off the new campaign in August with a back three, Robinson will surely have a role to play in the centre. If it is to be a back four, he is likely to be the left back.
The fact that he captained the side in the final weeks of the campaign is a sign of the regard Robinson is held in.
Like Benalouane, discipline is Robinson’s major issue, with the versatile defender collecting 13 yellow cards - although they were far fewer in number under O’Neill.
Which brings us nicely onto: That left-sided situation.
Forest have six quality central defenders on their books.
And Benalouane has shown he can do a decent job as a left-sided centre back and both Dawson and Worrall can play there as well. But Robinson is the only completely natural fit in that position - and he can’t play there and at left back at the same time.
So there is scope for Forest to add another left-sided central defender.
And about the full backs: Ben Osborn didn’t let anyone down playing as a left back - but there is no escaping the notion that his quality can be better utilised further up the pitch.
He has the energy and quality on the ball to flourish as a left sided wingback in particular - as does Matty Cash on the right side.
But O’Neill’s summer shopping list will include at least one full-back - if not two.
Tendayi Darikwa overcame a tentative start to his Forest career to show what he can do, down the right flank and his background as a winger means he is also comfortable playing as a wingback.
The Zimbabwe international has grown in stature during his time at the club. But Forest are also keen to bring Sam Byram back to the City Ground for another spell, despite seeing his loan move from West Ham hampered by injury.
Because when he played, Byram was generally very good. It is not only at right back where there is room for reinforcements, however.
Forest have high hopes for Danny Preston, a teenage left back who has impressed with the under-23 side - and who signed a new contract earlier in the year.
But another left back, as experienced cover and competition for Robinson, would not go amiss.
