Nottingham Forest find themselves without two key players for the next six weeks - and that means a selection dilemma for boss Steve Cooper.
Defenders Steve Cook and Max Lowe have been integral to the Reds’ push for a top-six spot and their progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. But they are set to be sidelined for extended spells with ankle and groin injuries respectively.
Forest have already been without front man Lewis Grabban since the end of January. However, it is hoped the veteran striker could be back available shortly after the upcoming international break.
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Thanks to the form of Aston Villa loanee Keinan Davis, as well as the impact of fellow January signing Sam Surridge, the Reds have continued to pick up results in Grabban’s absence. And Cooper must hope others also step up while Cook and Lowe are ruled out. The Welshman does have a few options for how to cover for the duo as he weighs up his starting XI to face QPR on Wednesday night.
The Reds could switch to a four-man back line, with Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna at centre-back. But there is also the possibility of bringing in Tobias Figueiredo, Loic Mbe Soh or Jonathan Panzo into a three.
Both Mbe Soh and Panzo started for the Under-23s against Sunderland on Monday night, so it seems unlikely they would be in the XI against Rangers. Figueiredo, meanwhile, hasn’t featured since Boxing Day’s defeat at Middlesbrough, having dropped down the pecking order following the arrival of Cook in the transfer window.
Midfielder Ryan Yates has also been used in a three-man defence before under Cooper. But he has been in such good form in the centre of the pitch of late, the head coach may want to leave him where he is.
Jack Colback has generally filled in at left wing-back when Forest have been without Lowe before. But Gaetan Bong and Richie Laryea are possibilities - although the latter has yet to make his debut, after joining from MLS outfit Toronto in January.
If Cooper does move Colback to the left and deploy Yates in defence, he could bring Cafu into midfield to partner James Garner. The Portuguese earned praise from his manager ahead of the midweek match, having impressed from off the bench in the 4-0 thumping of Reading.
Further up the pitch, Philip Zinckernagel could come back into the team. The Watford loanee missed out against the Royals due to illness, with Garner playing in a more advanced role in his absence.
Ahead of the midweek round of fixtures, the Reds closed the gap on the play-off spots to two points with their weekend victory. The clash with QPR is their final league run-out before the international break, although they do host Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.
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Predicted Forest XI: Horvath; Worrall, Figueiredo, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback; Johnson, Davis, Zinckernagel.
