Konchesky joins Forest on loan

(GETTY IMAGES)

Paul Konchesky today vowed to put his Liverpool nightmare behind him ahead of his Nottingham Forest debut in tomorrow's npower Championship clash at Coventry.

The former Fulham full-back completed a 93-day emergency loan move to the City Ground this morning, ending a miserable first five months at Anfield.

Konchesky failed to win over the Kop after penning a four-year deal in the summer, with the 29-year-old's signing seen by many fans as emblematic of Roy Hodgson's doomed reign.

Hodgson's departure sealed Konchesky's fate but he was determined today to get back in the Barclays Premier League by helping in-form Forest earn promotion.

Revealing he had learnt of the east midlanders' interest "two or three days ago", Konchesky told his new club's official website, http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk: "There was talk of me going back to Fulham and it didn't happen.

"I could have sat at Liverpool and just done nothing but I want to play football. I wanted to come to a team that was fighting for promotion.

"They play good football here and I want to be part of it and trying to get the team in the Premier League."

Admitting his dream move to Liverpool had not worked out, he added: "It was a tough start and then the manager that took me there got the sack and it was a big change.

"But that's part of life, I had to go to try it, it hasn't worked out, I want to get my football back on track, and I've been given an opportunity at Nottingham Forest."

Asked if manager Billy Davies needed to convince him to drop down to the Championship, Konchesky said: "No, not really. Because I want to play football and he's going to give me a chance to play."

Konchesky will go straight into the side for tomorrow night's match at the Ricoh Arena as fifth-placed Forest look to maintain a run that saw them take 19 of 21 available points going into yesterday's narrow FA Cup defeat at West Ham.

Long-time Championship leaders QPR host Portsmouth tomorrow night while Norwich hold second spot at present and, like Forest, are on a seven-match unbeaten run in the league ahead of the visit of play-off hopefuls Millwall.

Any slip-up could see them overhauled by third-placed Cardiff, who host Reading tomorrow, and Swansea, who visit Bristol City.

Just three points separate second and sixth place in a tight promotion race and even Leeds could leapfrog Norwich if they win their Yorkshire derby at Hull and other results go their way.

In what is a full programme of fixtures tomorrow night, rock-bottom Preston visit Barnsley, second-bottom Scunthorpe travel to fellow strugglers Middlesbrough, third-bottom Crystal Palace go to play-off chasing Watford, while the other matches are Derby v Ipswich, Doncaster v Burnley and Sheffield United v Leicester.