Nottingham Forest continue to give defender Steve Cook their “full support” after his father suffered a cardiac arrest on Tuesday night.
Following the Reds’ 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth, Cook posted a message of thanks to paramedics for reviving his father before the game. It is not known whether he was aware of what had happened when he lined up against his former club.
The centre-back is unlikely to be involved when Forest play their final game of the regular season on Saturday, at Hull City. But head coach Steve Cooper says he would probably have been left out anyway as he was left with a bloody gash at the Vitality Stadium, following a clash of heads.
Read more: Forest XI to face Hull City predicted as Steve Cooper faces big dilemma
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Selection decisions
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper will not take “any risks” when it comes to naming his team to face Hull City on Saturday.
Although normally one for making few tweaks to his starting line-up, the Reds head coach is mindful of the challenge ahead. With the play-offs on the horizon, Cooper says that may affect his starting XI at the weekend.
But there will be no less emphasis on trying to secure a victory which would see Forest finish third in the Championship table. And there is a fine line between leaving players out of the side and looking to build momentum for the matches to come.
“I’d be lying if I said we weren’t carrying some knocks and some ongoing medical issues with some players, like Yatesy with his shoulder,” Cooper said. “There’s certainly some situations where we won’t take any risks.
Injury latest
Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper says injured duo Keinan Davis and Max Lowe are no closer to making their comebacks.
Lowe has been out of action since mid-March, having been forced off in the first half of the 4-0 victory over Reading with a groin problem. It is his second spell on the sidelines with a similar issue this season.
It was expected he would be absent for about six weeks. But Cooper has previously spoken about the defender suffering a set-back.
Davis, meanwhile, suffered a hamstring injury against Luton Town last month, with the anticipation he would be sidelined for about four to five weeks. The Reds boss has been coy in the past about whether the striker could be back in time for the play-offs.
Daws believes
Nottingham Forest have been backed to brush off the "massive disappointment" of missing out on automatic promotion by clinching a place in the Premier League through the play-offs.
Steve Cooper 's side saw their hopes of a top-two finish ended in dramatic style as they were beaten 1-0 by rivals Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday night. The result clinched promotion for the Cherries, while leaving Forest to settle for a third or fourth place finish in the table.
The Reds round off their regular league campaign away to Hull City this weekend, though are already assured of a play-off place, so can start preparing for that. Huddersfield Town have also sealed a top-six spot, with Sheffield United, Luton Town, Middlesbrough and Millwall battling it out for the final two positions.
While Tuesday's events on the south coast will have left a bitter taste for Forest players, they must now dust themselves down for another chance at securing a long-awaited return to the top flight. Former Reds defender Michael Dawson believes they can do it.
