Tuesday 26 August 2014 21:42, UK
Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce admits he feared losing Henri Lansbury, but is delighted to have seen him commit to fresh terms.
Lansbury was the subject of Premier League interest over the summer, with Burnley believed to be leading the chase for his services.
Forest were able to fend off the advances, though, and negotiate a new three-year contract extension with the highly-rated midfielder.
Pearce is thrilled to have retained the services of a key performer, with Forest’s ambition convincing Lansbury that he can grace the top level again while at the City Ground.
There was a time when we thought we were facing a battle to keep him, yes – because a Premier League club showed an interest in him. I know the draw of the Premier League for players.
He said in the Nottingham Post: “There was a time when we thought we were facing a battle to keep him, yes – because a Premier League club showed an interest in him. I know the draw of the Premier League for players.
“But the biggest selling point we had at this club was the ability in the dressing room; the new signings we brought in to couple up with the players we already have here.
“The way the training has improved on a daily basis and the enjoyment that has brought has probably pushed Henri over the line into thinking that he wants to be part of this.
“In Henri’s shoes, I would probably have thought to myself, ‘Do you know what, the Premier League will taste a whole lot sweeter if I can get there with Nottingham Forest’. I think he will have seen that himself.”
Pearce added on the impact fresh faces and a promising start to the season have had on the atmosphere at Forest: “Where Henri had decided to be part of things is through what he has seen in the dressing room and on the training pitch – but is probably also what he has seen on match day.
“What we saw against Reading should send out the message to anyone at this club that they should want to be here, that they should want to be part of this, because you might get educated as a footballer, you might improve as a footballer and you might get to be part of a team that has, hopefully, a successful season.
“I think it was more the evidence of his own eyes than anything I said to him. He knows me inside out, because he has worked with me for three or four years on the international stage. He knows I do not mince my words. I will tell him exactly what I think he should and shouldn’t do.
“We have had a couple of interesting conversations over the last three or four weeks. But I am pleased to have him at this club because I know he can get double figures for this team, in this league.
“And he also gives us another option and, with the duration of the season, we will need as much as we can, squad wise, to get us over the line.”
