Wolves have handed Nottingham Forest a boost ahead of their Carabao Cup clash on Wednesday as Julen Lopetegui deals with a growing injury list.
Steve Cooper ’s side will be looking to bounce back from their 4-1 FA Cup humiliation against Blackpool on Saturday. The Reds are vying to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup for the first time since 1992 and will aim to prove that their defeat on the Lancashire coast was merely a blip.
Forest have been dealing with their own injury issues, with several long-term absentees, as well as Jesse Lingard being sidelined and doubts over Taiwo Awoniyi’s fitness after coming off against Southampton last week. However, it appears it will be a relatively level playing field as Wolves also have a growing number of players in the treatment room.
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Lopetegui’s side were unfortunate to only earn a replay from their FA Cup clash due to a VAR controversy and did so with a depleted squad. Wolves’ increasing lack of numbers may become a key factor at the City Ground, though.
Winger Daniel Podence missed the game with an unknown injury after being withdrawn at half-time against Aston Villa last week, where he had opened the scoring. Veteran duo Joao Moutinho and Diego Costa also missed the cup tie at Anfield with minor knocks but may return against Forest.
Highly-rated midfielder Boubacar Traore is expected to miss the next couple of months with a groin issue, while Pedro Neto is scheduled to return from an ankle problem in February. Elsewhere, both winger Chiquinho and striker Sasa Kalajdzic are expected to miss the remainder of the season with long-term knee ligament injuries.
Explaining his team selection for the Blackpool game on Saturday and giving an update on Forest’s injury issues, Cooper said : “There were a few knocks picked up at Southampton which ruled players out. Morgan (Gibbs-White) is another one; he’s had a recurrence of his calf problem, which ruled him out.
“There was a lot of fatigue in the group. Injury was a high-risk for the lads who played at Southampton, and we couldn’t take that with the amount of injuries we’ve got. We’ve already got too many players in the injury room, and we just can’t afford to have any more.”
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