When David McGoldrick joined Coventry City from Nottingham Forest on loan at the end of August on a four month long deal, few people would have predicted he would become on the best goal scorers in the League 1, nor that he would rapidly become a fans favourite.
There were a few Forest fans who had nicknamed him McGoaldrought, but two months into his loan spell and 8 league and cup goals later there have been constant calls from the Coventry supporters to make his stay at Coventry a permanent one.
McGoldrick is due to return to Nottingham Forest on 3rd January 2013 but what the future for the 24 year old striker will be from then is down to his parent club and until they decide what to do there is little that Mark Robins, Tim Fisher or Steve Waggott can do.
Earlier this month Forest manager Sean O’Driscoll hinted strongly that McGoldrick, whose Forest contract expires in June 2013, would be allowed to leave the club the January transfer window. Forest would get a fee for the striker, who joined then in June 2009 for £1m from Southampton, if he were to be sold in January, but he could walk away on a free transfer in June.
It is more than likely that Forest would want to recoup some of the £1m they paid for McGoldrick rather than keep him on their side lines or on loan elsewhere if they could get some cash for him, but whether Coventry could find the necessary funding to capture him remains to be seen.
The form that McGoldrick has been in while he has been at Coventry has brought him to the attention of other clubs, including Notts County and Charlton Athletic, who have been keeping a close eye on the player as well as his availability.
Coventry City want to keep hold of McGoldrick when his loan deal expires but there is little the club can do until Forest decide what they want to do and if they agree to his valuation, whether they can compete with other clubs is unlikely.
Coventry City’s development director Steve Waggott told the Coventry Telegraph's Alan Poole: “We can’t start talking publicly about all the scenarios surrounding David’s future because there are lots of ifs, buts and maybes involved here.
“His form in front of goal has been outstanding of late and, of course, it would be great if we could extend his stay beyond January when his loan deal is due to expire, but, while we are delighted with the goals he is scoring for Coventry City, he is still Nottingham Forest’s player.”
The irony is that the more goals McGoldrick scores for Coventry the greater the fee he will command therefore raising the likelihood that he will be too expensive for the cash strapped club to afford.
Fellow Coventry City striker Gary McSheffrey said: “It’s out of our hands. Forest have sent him out to get some games under his belt and the form he’s in at the minute he would probably be a good asset to their squad in the Championship.
“His goal on Saturday was a gift from their goalie but he was in that area to be composed, go round the keeper and slot it in and you tend to get those opportunities when you are on the top of your game. Since he came here he has got his head down and worked really hard, and wherever he end up they will be getting a really good player.”