There is belief at the City Ground it is only a matter of time before it comes together for McAtee, despite his struggles.
He remains part of Vitor Pereira’s plans for next season and one source believes he will “explode”, such is his natural talent.
To much excitement from supporters, McAtee arrived on a five-year deal worth about £30m weeks after the under-21s’ Euro 2025 triumph.
The nurturing and development of Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White was a selling point – that McAtee can be the next one off the conveyor belt.
He was part of Forest’s £180m spending spree, yet made just two Premier League starts last season as Gibbs-White locked the number 10 position down – scoring a season’s-best 18 goals and narrowly missing out on England’s World Cup squad.
Had Gibbs-White joined Tottenham the season could have looked very different.
McAtee played just 287 minutes in the club’s successful battle against relegation, and started nine of Forest’s 16 Europa League games in their run to the semi-finals.
He played 50 minutes under Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked three games into the season, 161 minutes during Ange Postecoglou’s brief reign and 441 minutes for Sean Dyche.
Under Pereira, McAtee managed 378 minutes in all competitions.
He made just one assist and is yet to score for Forest in the league, netting a penalty in the Europa League, while his best return was nine goals in the Championship on loan at Sheffield United.
Any frustrations from the season have lit a fire though, so much that earning an England call for Euro 2028 is a target – and he is still highly rated in the international set-up.
McAtee, who is settled at the City Ground, had a week off at the end of the season and has since trained every day using a specific programme set by Forest and his personal fitness, strength and conditioning coach.
He has added more strength and conditioning work and is expected to return for pre-season in peak shape.
His fitness was briefly questioned by Dyche last season but during one running exercise McAtee came second in the squad, earning praise from the former Everton manager who apologised for doubting him.
It is a character trait that he has remained focused. Despite limited game time McAtee has earned credit for not shirking the challenge and displaying humility.
Around the training ground he has been described as polite and has been noted for his work ethic, willingness to improve and the way he treats players, staff and others equally.
McAtee’s game intelligence is also valued and he is seen as a player who can find the solutions on the pitch before others.
There is a sense he is still developing and, with a good pre-season, there is an expectation he will be able to fight for a place.
The onus will be placed on McAtee to establish himself, but Pereira’s fluid style of play also suits him.
Comparisons have been made internally with Bernardo Silva – both players can be viewed as defensively fragile but capable of delivering match-winning moments.
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