Nottingham Forest have been struggling over their Premier League campaign so far and now find themselves bottom in the league table as a result of their poor performances in the top flight.

The Tricky Trees have lost their last five matches on the bounce and have conceded the second-most goals (21) in the division over their first eight outings. However, with 30 games still to go, there is plenty of time to turn the tide on their current troubling trajectory.

As a result, Forest manager Steve Cooper must find solutions and fast, with their next match coming up on Monday night against Aston Villa. One way that he could improve the team's chances of securing a win against Steven Gerrard's side is by injecting some fresh perspectives.

Giulian Biancone joined the Reds from Troyes in a three-year deal worth £5m but has been rarely seen in the team since his arrival at the City Ground, with just 12 minutes played in the league this season.

It seems surprising that he has not featured more when you consider how defensively inept Forest have been in some recent performances, conceding 18 goals in their last five games, as Biancone could be the key to not only adding depth to defensive play but also giving the team another creative outlet.

Across 33 appearances in Ligue 1 last season, the 22-year-old scored one goal and delivered two assists, making 1.6 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and two clearances per game and winning 57% of his duels (Sofascore).

Furthermore, the Frenchman ranks in the top 1% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the last 12 months for pressures, tackles and touches. He is also among the top 6% for interceptions, dribbles completed and shot-creating actions, proving that he is a versatile defender with the ability to cause problems for his opponents.

Cooper hailed Biancone as "very talented" when the player completed his move to the City Ground in July, so now it is time to deploy those talents in the team, as the 22-year-old could make a hugely positive impact which might yet save Nottingham Forest's season.