Injury issues continue to haunt Nottingham Forest’s season as Steve Cooper’s side battle for Premier League survival.
In his first start since returning from four months on the sidelines, Cheikhou Kouyate was forced off after just 30 minutes of the Reds’ 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa. And the visitors were then forced to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men when Moussa Niakhate also had to make way, with Cooper unable to make any more substitutions.
Niakhate has also only recently returned from a lengthy absence. Additionally, full-back Renan Lodi and midfielder Gustavo Scarpa have been added to the injury list, while attacker Emmanuel Dennis is not 100 percent after picking up a knock in the midweek loss at Leeds United.
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“I’m pretty sure they are both hamstrings,” Cooper said of Niakhate and Kouyate. “I’m not sure of the extent.
“Since Leeds, Scarpa has got injured and Lodi has got injured. Renan had a kick in training which is going to keep him out for a little bit. Dennis just about made the bench but was a risk.
“And then we picked up two injuries in the game as well. On that front, not ideal again.
“It’s definitely not gone our way with injuries. We’ve done everything to look at why that is.
“It’s just not helped in any way, shape or form. But as I’ve said before, I’m keen not to talk too much about it, because then it starts looking like an excuse.
“Is it ideal? No, of course it isn’t. But I don’t want to sit here and talk to you guys and the fans about the injuries we’ve got, because you still put a team out there which is capable of doing well in games. That’s more where my focus is.”
Scott McKenna and Jesse Lingard were unused substitutes at Villa Park, having had spells out of action. Forest are still without Serge Aurier, Ryan Yates, Chris Wood, Willy Boly, Dean Henderson, Omar Richards and Giulian Biancone.
The Reds are next in action against Manchester United at the City Ground next Sunday (April 16).
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