JACK Hobbs admits Nottingham Forest never quite saw the best of him in five injury-plagued seasons.

The Wanderers defender prepares to take on his former employers tonight for the first time since his release at the City Ground in the summer.

Despite playing regularly in his first few seasons at Forest, which began with a loan spell under Billy Davies from Hull City, he managed only 85 appearances in total – thanks largely to a career-threatening back injury.

Hobbs forced his way back to fitness to feature against Wanderers on the last day of last season, when Aaron Wilbraham’s late goal rescued the club from relegation to League One.

Aitor Karanka said this week he had been glad to see the 30-year-old centre-back getting games since his switch to Bolton, having been told by medical staff on his arrival at Forest in January to “forget” about him playing again.

But looking back at his time in the East Midlands, Hobbs concedes he never quite showed his best form in a red shirt.

“When I first went there I was playing regularly, started really well, I was in the top eight and the play-offs and it was going well,” he told Wanderers’ official website. “But then I got struck down with an injury, which was frustrating. It was a shame, really, because every club I’d been at before I’d played a lot of games and quite successful but at Forest it was difficult.

“I had my fair share of injuries and even after those I wasn’t managed very well and Forest never got the best out of me, never saw the best of me. It was just frustration, really, especially during the years that were meant to be my peak. It should really have been a time of trying to achieve promotion.

“In the end it turned into Groundhog Day, really. The team would struggle, the manager would get replaced, they would change a lot of players and staff and exactly the same thing would be happening eight or nine months later. It was really frustrating.”

Recalling Forest’s 3-2 defeat back in May, Hobbs could not have imagined he would end up playing for the opposition that day.

“I remember the atmosphere was unbelievable,” he said. “Bolton did really well, put the game to us. Forest were in the lead with not too long to go but fair play to Bolton they showed a lot of character to get back into it.

“It’s amazing to think now I’m a Bolton player.”

Forest have invested more than £25million over the summer on their playing squad in an effort to challenge for a promotion spot. And though the squad has been altered significantly since Hobbs said goodbye, he is looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces.

“It’ll be good to see the lads,” he said. “I have spent a bit of time with some of them. A lot have been replaced.

“It’ll be a tough game. They have spent a lot of money and they have got a good squad. It’ll be a big test but we’re looking forward to it.

“I’d expect high intensity and good football.”