FRUSTRATED Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka admits Zach Clough and Tyler Walker’s loan stint at Wanderers did not serve its purpose.

The two January deadline day arrivals shared just five starts between them at the Macron Stadium as Phil Parkinson’s side scrapped to avoid relegation.

It proved an especially unhappy homecoming for Clough – who had left for Forest in a £2.5million move just 12 months earlier. His winner against Sunderland proved a minor highlight in an otherwise miserable return to the club which gave him his professional break in football.

Karanka was unimpressed too, having hoped the pair would return alongside Jason Cummings from Rangers to add some competition to his attacking ranks.

“It has been a shame, because they have not really played,” Karanka told The Nottingham Post. “The young players like Walker, Clough and Cummings were on loan to play; to check them and what they could offer.

“We wanted them to report back for pre-season and show us the progress they had made. But they did not play regularly, so we need to think about them.”

Karanka indicated another loan might be on the cards for Cummings, Clough and Walker next season.

“They are young, they are talented. But they need to play,” he said. “If they were unable to play at Bolton or at Rangers, imagine how difficult it is going to be for them to play here.”