I WOULD not say that the signing of Elliott Ward is the final piece in the jigsaw for Nottingham Forest.
But the picture is very close to being complete.
Just one more signing could do it. Because, despite the arrival of Ward on loan from Norwich, Forest do still need another defender.
Even with him on board, the back four is the one area where they still lack strength in depth.
It does not look like Sam Hutchinson is going to be back in action any time soon.
Daniel Ayala is out for three weeks and Greg Halford, as a defender, will inevitably pick up his fifth booking of the campaign – and the suspension that comes with it – sooner, rather than later.
So, even with Ward on board, Forest still need one more.
Sean O'Driscoll will know this as well as anyone because, from what we have seen of him so far, he is a very astute manager.
He clearly has money to spend. The new owners have backed him with virtually every player he wanted to bring in.
And he has recruited very wisely. Forest have spent, but they have spent well.
They have not gone for big names – at least not exclusively.
O'Driscoll has just signed players who have real quality at Championship level and, equally importantly, men who are good characters.
Jermaine Pennant was offered around to Championship clubs on loan. We know he is a player with quality.
But he also has his flaws. To be blunt, there has to be a reason why he has been moved on so frequently by his clubs.
He might have done a job for Forest on the pitch – but he might also have upset the equilibrium in the dressing room.
Do not underestimate how dangerous that could be.
You sense, however, that the manager understands this.
When O'Driscoll said he was trailing another defender on loan, the internet lit up with all sorts of dramatic rumours.
Michael Dawson and Nemanja Vidic were among the rumours.
Both would obviously have been outstanding additions. But let's be realistic.
Forest are not in the Premier League. They are attempting to build a squad that can win promotion from the Championship and, perhaps, provide the basis of a dressing room that can survive in the top flight if they do.
The addition of players like Ward will only aid that.
He may not be a huge name; he may not put thousands of extra bums on seats at the City Ground.
But will he improve Forest's chances of promotion? Will he make the squad stronger?
Absolutely he will.
He has played in the Premier League with the Canaries and he has won promotion from this division with both Norwich and West Ham.
He is another player who understands what is required to be a success at this level.
That is a vital commodity.
When I look at the Forest squad now, I cannot help myself. I am starting to think they are almost there, when it comes to the quality; to the strength in depth that is required to be among the challengers this season.
They can build a challenge for promotion.
When you look back over the last four games, it does look as though things are falling into place.
They are picking up points in matches against big sides.
Eight points from games against Blackburn, Peterborough, Cardiff and Blackpool is not a bad return. If they can build on that when they play Barnsley today, there is a chance they will be back in the play-off places.
They could find themselves within a touching distance of the automatic promotion race.
Leicester are the prime example of how the mood can change quickly.
Nigel Pearson, ridiculously, was understood to be close to getting the sack in September.
But they have dropped just two points in their last seven matches and are now leading the way at the top of the table.
The mood has transformed in the space of not much more than a month.
It would not be a shock to see the same thing happen at Forest now.
When Forest signed Jermaine Jenas on loan, it was always going to attract a lot of media interest.
And much has been made of the fact that the former England man has not played more football at the City Ground.
But, despite the fact that Jenas has made only three sub appearances since arriving from Spurs, I'd still be keen to extend his stay when the deal expires this weekend.
He is a Nottingham lad, he will want to see the club do well. That is why he came.
But he is also versatile. If Forest's defensive crisis does get worse, I would have no qualms about playing him in the centre of the back four.
He is mobile, he can tackle, he is strong in the air and, best of all, he can play the ball out from the back.
Jenas has played in defence before and he can do it again now.
And, with his fitness presumably improving all the time, it is madness not to think that he cannot challenge for a starting place in midfield, if his loan was to be extended.
So far, O'Driscoll has used him sparingly for a reason.
Had he just thrown Jenas into the side, it would not have been fair on the likes of Andy Reid, Chris Cohen, Lewis McGugan, Simon Gillett and Radi Majewski, who have all done well this season.
But, if Jenas is happy to stick around and fight for his chance, Forest would be mad not to keep him.
