Lewis McGugan

Football player infobox
playername = Lewis McGugan


fullname = Lewis Shay McGugan
Nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|10|25
cityofbirth = Nottingham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Nottingham Forest
clubnumber = 8
position = Midfielder
height = Height|m=1.88
youthyears =
youthclubs = Nottingham Forest
years = 2006-
clubs = Nottingham Forest
caps(goals) = 49 0(8)
pcupdate = August 14, 2008

Lewis Shay McGugan (born October 25, 1988 in Nottingham, England) [http://www.football.co.uk/nottm_forest/players/lewis_mcgugan_120497.shtml] is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Coca-Cola Championship side Nottingham Forest. He made his professional début on 17 October 2006 in Forest's Football League Trophy win at Gillingham. He has also represented England at Under-17 level.

Career

2006-07

On March 3, 2007 McGugan was a substitute after just 12 minutes in Forest's match against Huddersfield Town. In his first five minutes of play he netted his second career goal with a shot, from the edge of the box, past the Huddersfield goalkeeper, Matt Glennon. This was Forest's third goal, in their 5-1 victory over Huddersfield. In an earlier match against Gillingham, McGugan scored a match-winning free kick in the 85th minute that ensured Forest would continue fighting for second place in League One. The goal was subsequently voted by fans as Forest's 'Goal of the season' for 2006-07.

2007-08

Although McGugan missed the start of the 2007-08 campaign, due to injury, he was recalled to the starting line-up following the absence of Neil Lennon. His performance enabled him to keep his place in the side, whilst Lennon remained on the bench following his own return. McGugan's first league goal of the season came from a 20-yard strike in Forest's 2-2 draw with Northampton Town. He scored his fourth goal of the season, in the second minute of stoppage time, in the New Year's Day 2-1 win, at the City Ground, over Huddersfield a goal which won him Forests goal of the season for the second year running. He did not score again until April, but then scored three goals in Forest's last four games of the season, including an outstanding free-kick against Yeovil Town in Forest's 3-2 win on the last day of the campaign, which saw Forest promoted from League One into the Championship. He finished the season with seven goals, with his form valuable to Forest to help them gain promotion. This was the youngster's first major honour of his career.

Following some impressive performances, manager Colin Calderwood said on 3 January 2008 "He's a young player with a wonderful future ahead of him." [ [http://www.nottinghamforest.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~1205110,00.html "Lewis In The Limelight"] , Nottingham Forest official site, 3 January 2008] The youngster put pen to paper and signed a new three and a half year deal keeping him at the club until 2011.

2008-09

McGugan began the campaign with reasonable performances against Reading and Swansea, before sustaining a torn Rectus Femoris muscle in his thigh in the latter game. He was due to be out for 3-4 weeks. It was announced before the game against Burnley that McGugan's progressed had been hampered by a complete rupture of the same muscle close to where it attaches on his hip. He is now expected to be out for a further 6 weeks, to the dismay of Forest fans and players. Fact|date=September 2008

Honours

*League One runner-up with Nottingham Forest, 2008

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=45051|name=Lewis McGugan