Gardner deal to Forest imminent

Nottingham Forest are set to complete a loan deal for Aston Villa midfielder, Gary Gardner within the next 24 hours according to reports.

The Nottingham Post report how Gardner is expected to join the Championship side on loan for the rest of the season – he previously spent the second half of last season also at the City Ground.

The Aston Villa academy graduate has found first team football hard to come by at Villa Park since making his senior debut for The Villans under Alex McLeish in 2011.

After making his debut two excruciating injuries has meant Gardner has only featured in a Villa shirt 16 times.

The loan move will see Gardner move to a side sitting comfortably in 14th place in the Championship. In his previous loan spell at Forest, he found the net four times in 18 appearances.

Gardner looked set for a first team role at Villa this campaign but a tackle in pre-season meant he missed the start of the season. He will be hopeful he can finally kickstart his season again under Dougie Freeman.