Exclusive: Sky pundit drops 'no regrets' claim on Omari Hutchinson's Nottingham Forest situation after Ipswich exit | OneFootball

The £37.5m forward has managed just 52 minutes of Premier League football across four substitute appearances this season

Nottingham Forest's record signing Omari Hutchinson has managed just 52 minutes of Premier League football across four substitute appearances this season.

The 21-year-old forward signed for the East Midlands outfit in a £37.5m deal from Ipswich Town alongside James McAtee from Manchester City, who Forest paid £30m for.

Hutchinson’s limited game time has surely raised questions about whether he may be regretting his high-profile summer switch from Portman Road - which became even more apparent when he was excluded from Forest's Europa League squad.

However, former England midfielder Lee Hendrie believes the youngster won't be dwelling on his decision to leave relegated Ipswich for the Premier League club.​

Omari Hutchinson won't "regret" Nottingham Forest move from Ipswich Town

Speaking exclusively to FLW about Hutchinson's situation at the City Ground, Lee Hendrie offered reassurance that the England U21 international made the right choice in joining Forest, even if immediate playing opportunities have been scarce.

"Listen, I think it’s going to take time for him to get into the team and get his minutes," Hendrie explained.

"The way that Ange is going at the moment, you know he’s utilising the squad because of Europe, cup competitions et cetera, he’s [Hutchinson] going to have to bide his time before he does get into the starting lineup," he added.

The Sky Sports pundit was keen to stress that patience would be crucial for Hutchinson's development at his new club under manager Ange Postecoglou, who replaced the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo in September.

There's no doubt that Forest's involvement in European competition for the first time in 30 years has created additional squad rotation challenges, but Hutchinson perhaps won't be content with starting the occasional cup game.

His first start for the club was in their 3-2 Carabao Cup loss to Swansea City, but the former Tractor Boy did manage to grab an assist and play the full 90 minutes.

Hendrie then claimed, "I think there will be no regrets leaving Ipswich at all.

"He's in the Premier League and that's where I think all players ultimately want to be," the former Aston Villa midfielder concluded.

Seeing as Postecoglou hasn't won any of his seven games in charge of the Reds, his time at the City Ground is already reportedly on "thin ice", which could leave more uncertainty looming for Hutchinson.

Ipswich Town must be confused as to why Omari Hutchinson has barely featured for Nottingham Forest

Hutchinson's restricted game time can be partly attributed to the fierce competition for places in Forest's attacking positions.

The Reds invested heavily during the summer transfer window, bringing in multiple attacking options including Dan Ndoye from Bologna, Dilane Bakwa, and, of course, the aforementioned McAtee.

Even so, the decision to omit Hutchinson from Forest's Europa League squad was particularly surprising given his record transfer fee.

Forest were restricted to naming just 22 players instead of the usual 25 due to UEFA's homegrown player regulations, with captain Ryan Yates being their only qualifying club-trained player.

Despite the current frustrations, Hendrie's words align with the broader trajectory many young players experience when making big moves between clubs.

Hutchinson's £37.5 million valuation reflects his potential rather than just current ability, with Forest obviously viewing him as a long-term investment who can develop into a key player over the coming seasons.​

The 21-year-old's previous success in Suffolk, where he scored 11 goals during their Championship promotion campaign in 23/24 before contributing three goals in their relegated Premier League season, shows his capability at different levels of English football.

Ultimately, although it must be confusing to Town fans who know his current quality, Forest's patient approach with their record signing suggests confidence in his eventual integration into the first-team setup.

Three changes can reportedly also be made to their Europa League squad ahead of the knockout phase - so there are potential opportunities for the former Chelsea academy prospect to feature in the latter stages of the competition.​

For now, Hendrie's perspective offers some reassurance that short-term patience often leads to long-term success for talented players like Hutchinson.