Villa defender Nicky Shorey may never return to the club after his loan employers Nottingham Forest expressed an interest in a permanent move for the former England international.

The left-back made his debut for the Championship outfit in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Doncaster, after signing before last Thursday’s loan deadline, and is not due back at his parent club until the end of the month.

But Forest boss Billy Davies has already seen enough for him to want to keep the 28-year-old at the City Ground.

He said: “At that point we’ll try to sit down and negotiate with Villa with regards to extending the loan or, fingers crossed, trying to conclude a permanent deal.”