Ex-Newcastle star blasts Magpies spell after signing for Prem rivals - 'Biggest mistake'

goalkeeper Matz Sels has revealed that a prior spell at was the 'biggest mistake' of his career.

The 32-year-old is flying with the Tricky Trees this season. Having let in only 10 goals in 11 matches, Forest are fifth in the table and miles clear of relegation danger.

Sels landed at the City Ground in January after five-and-a-half solid seasons with French side Strasbourg. And it has given him a second chance to forge a successful career in English football after his move to St. James' Park back in 2016 quickly fell flat.

The Belgian made only nine Championship appearances before being shipped out to Anderlecht on loan, and then leaving permanently in 2018. Looking back on his spell with the Magpies, Sels rues getting 'left behind'.

"For 99 per cent of footballers, the Premier League is a dream," the stopper told ahead of Belgium's upcoming Nations League clashes with Italy and Israel. "I can only confirm that.

"The intensity there I haven't seen anywhere else. Every day I work hard to prove that I am worth playing in the Premier League. Why it's working out now and not eight years ago at Newcastle? That was my first time abroad then and the start was just very difficult, leaving me behind. That was one of my biggest mistakes. I was never able to turn that negative perception around then."

Sels was thrown straight into the Forest line-up by Nuno Espirito Santo last season, ahead of Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos. And though the keeper shared some harsh words about his stint with Newcastle, he believes it served him well in the long run.

"I don't look back on that period with resentment, because it's part of the job," he continued. "Every football player has a period when things slow down. Something like that makes you stronger. The most important thing is how you deal with such moments."

While Sels has gone from Newcastle to Nottingham, Vlachodimos went in the other direction this summer after being frozen out by Nuno. The Greek goalkeeper has made one substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup since his move.

With Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka ahead of him in the pecking order, it remains to be seen whether Vlachodimos stays the course in the north-east or looks to move on in January.