Latest Nottingham Forest news as Steve Cooper’s Reds prepare for Premier League match at Selhurst Park.
Nottingham Forest head to Crystal Palace this weekend in their final game before the international break.
The Reds will be aiming to sign off on a positive note, having made an encouraging start to the season. They came from behind to claim a point against Brentford last time out, with Nicolas Dominguez netting the equaliser after Moussa Niakhate had been sent off.
Head coach Steve Cooper faces some big selection decisions for Saturday’s match, while he is also sweating on the fitness of a few players. We take a look at Forest’s injury situation as it stands.
Nicolas Dominguez
Injury: Suspected groin.
What we know: The Argentine secured a point for the Reds with his first goal for the club when he headed home in the 65th minute at the City Ground. He was then forced off with what looked to be a groin problem with 10 minutes to go after injuring himself when he stretched to make a challenge.
Nuno Tavares
Injury: Groin.
What we know: On his first start for Forest, the full-back was forced off 40 minutes into the defeat at Manchester City. He seemed to tweak something when making a forward run, and although he tried to continue after receiving treatment he eventually limped off.
What has been said: “Nuno Tavares came off in the Man City game, but fortunately it’s not what we thought it might have been,” Cooper said ahead of the Brentford clash. “It’s not a serious injury, so that is good. He is not far away.”
Ola Aina
Injury: Muscle.
What we know: The full-back has made a terrific start to his Forest career and has been a regular starter. However, he was not in the match squad for Sunday’s draw with the Bees.
What has been said: “Ola and Nuno were both out with muscle injuries,” Cooper said.
Ryan Yates
Injury: Hamstring.
What we know: An unused substitute against Pep Guardiola’s side, the midfielder was then not involved at the City Ground. He last featured against Burnley, when he came off the bench in the 1-1 draw.
What has been said: “Yatesy is out with a hamstring at the moment,” Cooper explained. “He has been carrying it a little bit. It affected him last week at Man City and this week altogether.”
Danilo
Injury: Suspected hamstring.
What we know: The Brazilian had been due to feature against Burnley in the Carabao Cup, but a late change was made as he suffered a hamstring problem. He underwent a scan prior to the clash with Chelsea and had been a doubt for the trip.
The midfielder got the go-ahead to make the starting XI at Stamford Bridge but lasted little more than 45 minutes. He pulled up towards the end of the first half and came off after receiving treatment on the pitch. He went on to withdraw from the Brazil Under-23 squad and has not been involved for the Reds since the Premier League resumed. Cooper recently said he would be “out for a few weeks yet”.
What has been said:“Danilo is just recovering from a medium-term injury. He is back on the grass, nowhere near being with the team but he is definitely making progress,” Cooper said last week.
Felipe
Injury: Knee.
What we know: A knee issue prevented the defender from being involved in any of the Reds’ pre-season games and he barely trained during the summer. He is yet to get on the pitch for the first-team this season but was on the bench against Burnley in the Carabao Cup and at Chelsea. He then played an hour for the Under-21s against Harrogate Town in the EFL Trophy but has not been in a match squad since the return to action after the international break.
What has been said: “Felipe is an ongoing situation with his knee; one we are trying to manage carefully and trying to support him the best way possible to give him the best chance of being back involved,” Cooper said in his pre-match press conference before Brentford. “He missed last week, it flared up a little bit. It’s an ongoing daily management situation.”
Earlier this season, Felipe said via a translator: “It was a variety of different things, different niggles. A fibrosis in the kneecap was diagnosed, and that was holding me back. But that is all recovered and resolved now.
“I had it last season. It was the same thing, it was a bit more intense. I would manage it with medication and treatment.
“I made lots of sacrifices to make it on to the pitch, so when it came to the end of the season it was quite delicate. The decision was made to have this rest and recovery period so I will have no more problems in the future.”
Leave a Reply