Troy Deeney has raved about Liam Delap after his heroics for Nottingham Forest during Saturday’s brilliant 3-1 win over Manchester City.

Delap announced his arrival to the Forest fans on home soil by scoring two outrageous goals. First, he powered his way down the middle of the pitch in fashion that Stan Collymore is remembered for, before smashing home a brilliant finish, whilst his second goal will be a Goal of the Season contender for certain.

Delap was praised for his efforts during the contest, and perhaps some of the ridicule of late will cease, with the player now needing to go on a bit of a consistent run of form to truly justify his £50 million price tag.

Now, Deeney has also dug himself out of a bit of a hole after some criticism earlier this season by naming the Forest striker in his Team of the Week and announcing that he thinks the player sent a message to his former manager.

Troy Deeney hails Liam Delap after Forest win

Deeney believes that Delap sent a message to Maresca, who failed to pick the striker at Chelsea, with his two goals to pile the pressure on the current Manchester City incumbent.

Delap’s goals were a thing of real beauty, and if he can add a little bit more consistency to his goalscoring prowess, Forest could have got themselves a really good striker.

Deeney told BBC Sport: “What a game for him and the moment he needed. A lot of pressure from the outside, including myself. Hasn’t shown up big this season but against his former team, Man City, his former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca as well, and he turned around and said, ‘You know what, I am the man and you should have kept me around.’

“Scored two unbelievable goals, led the line well and looked physically fitter and stronger. Maybe now that confidence comes through and we see the best of him after the international break.”

Delap will be buzzing with his two goals against City, and now the challenge will be for him to stay on the goal trail and help Forest win more points and climb the Premier League table.

Forest have proved they can get a result against a good side this season in City and the Reds have to take more confidence into games against the lesser teams in the division.

The tough fixtures continue to come after the international break and the hope will be that this win can give everything a bit of a lift and ignite Forest under Glasner.