New Nottingham Forest centre-back Michael Mancienne has admitted that playing in Germany for Hamburger SV has helped him improve as both a player and a person.

Mancienne, who joined the Championship side earlier in the week, said that there were ups and downs in Germany but in general he has learned a lot.

"It's been a great experience for me and I definitely have learnt a lot, but there's obviously been ups and downs," Sky Sports News quotes Mancienne as saying.

"It's been tough at times and it's hard when you haven't got family and friends down the road that can come over quickly, but this has made me a stronger person. It has been a great test of my character as well and I think I have come through stronger.

"At the time I actually did really want to play abroad and I thought it would be a great experience. I know football is a short career and I did want that experience and at the end I'm really happy that I've had it."

Mancienne has previously had loan spells with Queens Park Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.