Head coach Steve Cooper hasn’t ruled out January signings being made before Nottingham Forest return to Premier League action in little more than a week’s time.
Gustavo Scarpa is the only newcomer to the squad so far this window, with the Brazilian having linked up with the Reds last month. He was ineligible to play against Chelsea last weekend, but came off the bench to make his debut in Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Southampton.
Forest are targeting further additions before the month is out. And with two cup games to come over the next week - against Blackpool in the FA Cup and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup - Cooper says there is a possibility the club could have strengthened by the time they face Leicester City in the league on Saturday week.
READ MORE: Forest face six big transfer decisions in January window
READ MORE: Cooper responds to exit rumours as transfer stance explained
Loan switch
Nottingham Forest winger Josh Bowler’s loan spell at Olympiacos has been cut short.
The summer signing was due to spend the season in Greece with the Reds’ fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned side. That deal has now been terminated and he has joined former club Blackpool on loan for the rest of the campaign.
Bowler struggled for regular game time while at Olympiacos, making just four league appearances. He returns to the Seasiders, who he left to sign for Forest on deadline day in September.
It comes as the Reds make the trip to Bloomfield Road in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with Bowler unable to feature for the hosts against his parent side. Steve Cooper ’s side go into the game buoyed by their midweek win over Southampton, which was their first Premier League away victory of the season.
Awoniyi update
Nottingham Forest will check on the fitness of front-man Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Blackpool.
The striker scored the goal which clinched the Reds’ first away win of the Premier League season on Wednesday night, seeing off Southampton 1-0 at St Mary’s. But he was forced off with 20 minutes to go, having seemingly picked up a knock.
Forest already have Moussa Niakhate, Omar Richards, Giulian Biancone and Cheikhou Kouyate as long-term absentees, while Jesse Lingard is facing a month on the sidelines. Head coach Steve Cooper hopes Awoniyi was just suffering from fatigue on the south coast, but will see how he is before the weekend’s trip to Bloomfield Road.
“It’s still early. We’re still assessing. The players are in a bit later today,” Cooper said.
Dennis struggles
"Time is running out" for Emmanuel Dennis at Nottingham Forest and he "only has himself to blame", according to BT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher.
The Nigerian striker is reportedly in line to leave the City Ground during the January transfer window - just five months after arriving at the club. The 25 year-old joined the Reds from Watford in a deal worth an initial £10 million plus add-ons, but has struggled to pin down a starting spot under manager Steve Cooper.
Dennis has been 'made available' for transfer this month, with The Telegraph reporting that he allegedly "infuriated coaching staff for his part in the home team’s third goal" as Forest suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United on 27 December. The player's situation is complicated by the fact he can only move abroad as he has already played for two English clubs this season.
Fletcher believes that Dennis has not lived up to the hype since making the move to the East Midlands. The man who once took down Real Madrid in their own stadium is, he tells the Garibaldi Red podcast, too much of a "maverick" to find a place in Cooper's structure.
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