Nottingham Forest have been dealt another injury blow, with the news Serge Aurier is facing a spell on the sidelines.
The defender was forced off with 10 minutes remaining of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City. Head coach Steve Cooper said afterwards he was hopeful the right-back was just suffering from fatigue.
Speaking to NCI Sport, Aurier said he expected to be absent for 10 to 15 days. However, Cooper says it could be between three to four weeks before the summer signing returns, due to a calf strain.
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Cook latest
Nottingham Forest are still waiting to hear if they have been successful in their bid to reinstate Steve Cook into their 25-man squad.
The defender was left out when the Reds submitted their list after the January transfer window closed. But he has continued to train with the first-team, and the club want him back in amid an injury crisis at the back.
The Premier League rejected Forest’s initial request for Cook to replace Willy Boly, who is facing at least three months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem. An appeal was then submitted, but the governing body are yet to provide a response.
“We’ve not heard yet. We’re still hopeful,” said head coach Steve Cooper ahead of Saturday’s trip to face West Ham United.
Contract talks
Defender Serge Aurier says talks have already taken place over extending his stay at Nottingham Forest.
The right-back penned a one-year deal when he made the move to the City Ground as a free agent last September, having left Villarreal. Since then, he has become a key figure for the Reds, becoming one of the first names on the team-sheet as his consistent performances and experience have proved vital.
Forest have a number of players who will be out of contract at the end of the season, with Aurier among them. And while he is keen not to rush into making a decision, discussions have been held about the possibility of a new deal.
“You know, I don't like to rush into my choices,” the former Tottenham Hotspur full-back told NCI Sport (via sport-ivoire). “I think I could have continued in Spain but I preferred to come here because it's a championship that suits me.
Move thwarted
Harry Toffolo's loan move from Nottingham Forest to Anderlecht was "thwarted by some agents" last month, according to a report in Belgium.
Toffolo was all set to join the Belgian club until the end of the season as the January transfer window drew to a close, but the plug was pulled at the last moment. Anderlecht CEO Jesper Fredberg confirmed as much earlier this month.
Despite his failed move, Toffolo was named in Forest's 25-man Premier League squad by head coach Steve Cooper, with teammates Steve Cook and Lewis O'Brien among those to miss out.
According to Belgian outlet Voetbal Nieuws (per Sport Witness), Toffolo's January exit was "thwarted by some agents" who were meddling in the deal. Forest subsequently called it off at the last minute, it is said.
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