Nottingham Forest defender Scott McKenna is said to have withdrawn from international duty due to a knee strain.
The centre-back had played the full 90 minutes in each of Scotland’s victories over Ukraine and Republic of Ireland last week and showed no obvious sign of injury. But on Sunday he pulled out of the national squad, ahead of Tuesday night’s crucial Nations League match against Ukraine in Poland.
McKenna was suffering from a knee strain, according to The Herald. Kieran Tierney also withdrew from the squad at the same time, with Hearts duo Barrie McKay and Stephen Kinglsey called up by boss Steve Clarke to replace them.
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Cooper insight
First-team coach Andy Reid has provided an insight into the workings of Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper.
The Welshman marked one year in charge at the City Ground last week - a 12 months in which he led the Reds from bottom of the Championship table into the Premier League, where they now face the new challenge of trying to survive.
When Cooper arrived last September, he joined a club where the atmosphere in the stands had turned toxic under predecessor Chris Hughton, and where there was a lack of connection between players and fans. He quickly created a sense of unity which was a significant driving factor in the team’s promotion success.
Reid, who made the step up from Under-23s chief to Cooper’s coaching staff in the summer, says it is the 42-year-old’s man-management skills which set him apart. Creating a togetherness among the squad continues to be a priority as Forest look to navigate the pit-falls of the top-flight on the back of a summer overhaul.
Predicted line-up
Nottingham Forest have picked up a few injury concerns during the international break, which could impact boss Steve Cooper’s team selection.
The Reds will return to action next Monday night, when they make the trip to face Leicester City. It is a fixture which has the makings of being an important match for both sides, as they currently occupy the bottom two places in the Premier League table.
Four Forest players (Mouusa Niakhate, Scott McKenna, Emmanuel Dennis and Morgan Gibbs-White) will need to be assessed before then, having been forced to withdraw from their international squads. And while another week’s recovery time will be of benefit, Cooper’s options may be impacted when it comes to picking his line-up to face the Foxes.
The Welshman was already facing some big calls over his starting XI. He needs to find a way of bringing a miserable run of four straight defeats to a halt.
Value rockets
Nottingham Forest's decision to tie academy product Brennan Johnson down to a new four year contract in July is already paying off.
Johnson was the subject of interest from Premier League clubs in January, with Forest rejecting offers from Brentford during the winter window. The 21-year-old scored 19 goals in all competitions last season to help return the Reds to the top flight and has continued his fine form on the international stage with Wales.
The winger was the stand-out performer for Rob Page's side against Belgium last Thursday and earned comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard after an impressive assist for Kieffer Moore.
Since breaking into the Forest first team last season after impressing on loan with Lincoln City the season before, Johnson's market value has done nothing but increase - drastically. Following his 13 goals for the League One side, he was valued at £360,000.
How should Forest line up against Leicester? Have your say in the comments below
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