Armand Traore is determined to put his injury problems behind him after a first season at Nottingham Forest he wants to forget.
The 27-year-old defender only played 12 Championship games for the Reds during the last campaign, after arriving at the City Ground on a three-year deal last summer.
But he insists he is feeling good now, having spent this summer working on his fitness before reporting back to the club for pre-season training.
And, speaking at Forest’s training base in Florida, he expressed his desire to play a bigger part when the new campaign kicks off.
“The year before I came to Forest I had issues at QPR. I didn’t play a single game there, so I was lacking my fitness,” he said.
“Then I came towards the end of the (transfer) window, like the start of the Championship, so I didn’t have a pre-season.
“I had one big injury against Preston and it was a year to forget to be honest.
“It was always going to be difficult when you have a blank year, when you don’t play.
“I knew that, but I didn’t think it was going to be like that.
“Then I had another biggish injury just before the end of the season, but in a way it was good because it made me stronger.
“I worked from the sixth of May, I kept working.
“I was really busy working on my fitness, I didn’t really have any holidays.
“I feel good now. Touch wood everything goes well, and I just want to stay injury free.”
Traore admits he is excited about the future at Forest, following the takeover of the club this summer by Evangelos Marinakis.
“I think there are a lot of good things happening at the club, it’s actually quite exciting,” he told the club.
“The manager has got plans for this season and hopefully we will do well.”
