By Joe Jones
Ryan Yates has revealed that his decision to join Notts County on loan was mainly influenced by Kevin Nolan being manager at the club.
The 19-year-old, who is on the books at Nottingham Forest, joined the Magpies for a season-long spell at the start of the season.
Despite being tracked by a number of teams interested in his services, Yates decided to go for a loan move over the Trent.
“First and foremost my decision to come here was because of Kevin Nolan being the manager,” he told the Nottingham Post.
“That was the main reason. He has played in the Premier League and I’ve not really had that kind of person to learn from yet.
“He was a central midfielder like me and a goalscorer. He had that leadership and is somebody I really look up to.
“I remember watching all his goals thinking I want that to be me one day so it’s going to be really good experience for me.”
Yates, who scored on his Notts debut against Scunthorpe United in the League Cup, also hailed the presence of other former Premier League players at Meadow Lane, such as Shola Ameobi, Jon Stead and Alan Smith.
“At the start I was a bit in awe because I couldn’t believe I was training with all these types of players.
“Being with the under-18s and the under-23s you don’t get that, so I am just trying to feed off their experience.
“I am trying to take it all in because they are not always going to be around. Shola is always giving me advice so I am trying to take that information and learn every day.
“These players have been there and done it, then dropped down the leagues."
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