TENDAI Darikwa said he took the decision to leave Turf Moor to find more regular first-team football.

The 25-year-old moved from Burnley to Nottingham Forest for a fee close to £2million last week, and he made his first Forest appearance against the Clarets in Saturday's 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

Darikwa admitted he had found it difficult at Burnley recently, with his involvement last season restricted entirely to cup games, and he hadn't featured in a league game since December 2015.

"For me last season was difficult, I played five games in total and they were all cup games," the former Chesterfield right-back said.

"I’m 25 now at an age where I can’t really afford to be sat in the stands.

"As soon as I heard that Forest were interested it was something that I wanted to jump on."

Although Burnley managed to achieve Premier League survival last season it was a campaign that Darikwa doesn't remember fondly, although he said he mostly had happy memories of his time with the Clarets.

"I had a great time at Burnley – the first year I was there we won the Championship," he said.

"The second season I was in the Premier League for the first time in my career, I didn’t play any games so I didn’t really enjoy that season.

"But it is a great club.

"When I got taken out of the team halfway through the season I think we were fifth in the league.

"We had a dip in form and obviously the gaffer changed the team which he is entitled to do and that was it – the rest is history.

"I thought I did ok."

Darikwa will be hoping to use that experience of winning the Championship with the Clarets to help boyhood club Forest fight for promotion this season.

"The Championship is one of the toughest leagues in the world to win and I have that experience now," he said.

"Hopefully I can come to Forest, use that experience and put it in to this squad.

"I grew up watching Forest and hopefully we can have a good season.

"I wouldn’t have signed for the club if I didn’t feel that we could be successful.

"I’ve come here to win."