All the latest Nottingham Forest headlines are brought to you by Nottinghamshire Live on April 18...
Joao Carvalho discusses Forest's promotion chances as ex-midfielder praise Steve Cooper
Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Joao Carvalho says he is so confident the Reds will win promotion to the Premier League that he would "bet" on them if he could.
Carvalho left Forest in January 2022 in favour of a move to Greece with Olympiacos, but the 25-year-old has seemingly been keep up-to-date with the Reds ' fortunes in the Championship this season The midfielder exited the City Ground during the winter transfer window having had limited opportunities to draw supporters from their seats on the banks of the River Trent.
He made just one first-team appearance for Forest during the 2020/21 season before joining Spanish side Almeria on a loan transfer. Now with Olympiacos, Carvalho was one of the players involved in a charity friendly organised with Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this month.
Speaking after the game, Carvalho revealed a secret pleasure at seeing Forest pushing for promotion and that he would even go as far as placing a bet on Steve Cooper's side to go up this year.
Click here to see what he said
Forgotten defender to be offered chance to fight for Nottingham Forest future
Defender Nicholas Ioannou is to be given a surprise Nottingham Forest lifeline ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ioannou, 26, has spent the past season out on loan at Italian side Como but will be given the opportunity to fight for a place in Steve Cooper's squad regardless of whether they are promoted or not to the Premier League, if he wants to stay. Forest find themselves within a contested race for the Championship play-offs. Cooper's side are fifth in the standings, seven points behind second-placed Bournemouth and four clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough.
The Reds also have two games in hand over several of their rivals sat around them. Ioannou has made five appearances for Forest but has spent the past season on loan at Como in Serie B. The 26-year-old has enjoyed the greater playing opportunities available to him as he has become a regular starter under Giacomo Gattuso.
Nottinghamshire Live understands Ioannou will return to the Reds this summer and will be given the opportunity to showcase his talents in pre-season training before a decision is made about his immediate future. Whilst it remains most likely that the left back - who joined Forest in September 2020 and is contracted until 2023 - will depart the City Ground either on another loan or a permanent deal, the Reds are not yet set on that outcome.
It is also claimed that the player will be involved in discussions over his future, meaning Ioannou could decide to stay on the banks of the Trent and stake a claim to start under Cooper.
Read the full story by clicking here
Reds predicted to 'put the record straight' against West Brom
Nottingham Forest must bounce back from their defeat to Luton by beating West Brom on Monday afternoon, according to David Prutton.
Steve Cooper admitted after the defeat - which ended a 10-game unbeaten run and five consecutive wins - that he anticipated his side dropping points somewhere before the end of the season.
Forest have the perfect opportunity to force out any frustration picked up in Bedfordshire when West Brom visit on Monday afternoon.
Steve Bruce's side have been plagued by inconsistencies of late having won two and lost two of their last four matches. Such a run of form leaves them in 11th, five points behind the play-offs but with only four games left.
The Reds have enjoyed brilliant form at the City Ground since the turn of the new year - no other Championship team is unbeaten at home in 2022 - and it is no surprise, therefore, to see Prutton predicting Forest to come out on top.
"That narrow defeat to Luton on Friday will have hurt Forest, who were riding high after winning five games on the trot before that," he wrote for Sky Sports. "It is clear to see they will be out to put the record straight and make sure they finish inside the top six, with their place far from secure."
Read Prutton's full prediction for Nottingham Forest by clicking here
