Nottingham Forest have signed Nicklas Bendtner on a two-year deal, so what can they expect from the player who had so much promise when he first arrived in North London?

In short, not very much.

First signing for Arsenal in 2005, Bendtner arrived with levels of self-confidence that were like nothing the sports psychologists at the club had ever seen. They were literally off their charts.

That’s no bad thing if you have the talent, and Bendtner undoubtedly does, but he lacks the attitude that is required to fulfil that promise and now, at age 28, the former teenager who wanted to be the best striker in the world, will take to the pitch for his Championship side looking to score his first goal since October 2015.

SOLNA, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 14: Nicklas Bendtner of Denmark looks on during the European Qualifier Play-Off between Sweden and Denmark on November 14, 2015 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
SOLNA, SWEDEN – NOVEMBER 14: Nicklas Bendtner of Denmark looks on during the European Qualifier Play-Off between Sweden and Denmark on November 14, 2015 in Solna, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

76 goals and 34 assists in 305 games is his current record and he has not completed 90 minutes of competitive football since April 2015. He hasn’t played competitive football at all since February after exasperating Wolfsburg to such an extent that they cancelled his contract.

Last season in the Bundesliga he picked up as many yellow cards as he did goals – two.

There’s no doubt there is a great player inside Bendtner but no coach has managed to convince him to set his ego aside long enough to let it out.

If Philippe Montanier can get him to do that, then they have a great player on their hands.

If he, like Arsene Wenger and the managers at Birmingham, Sunderland, Juventus and Wolfsburg can’t, then they have more of a playboy than a player.