Nottingham Forest have been dealt a significant injury setback with the news that defenders Steve Cook and Max Lowe both face six weeks on the sidelines.
The duo were forced off in Saturday’s 4-0 rout of Reading, with Sheffield United loanee Lowe departing in the first half and January signing Cook right at the end of the victory.
It is Lowe’s second spell out of action this season with a groin issue after he missed two months towards the end of last year, while his teammate is ruled out with an ankle problem.
Both have been key players in the Reds’ charge up the Championship table, and their absence comes at a crucial stage in the campaign with 11 league games to go.
Transfer plans
Boss Steve Cooper hopes Ryan Yates penning a new deal can help Nottingham Forest when it comes to their transfer plans.
The midfielder has signed fresh terms which will keep him at the City Ground until 2025, on the back of some sparkling performances this season.
The Reds have a number of other players who are tied down for the medium to long-term, while talks have taken place over a new contract for Brennan Johnson.
And as he looks to put together a group capable of achieving success - ahead of what will be a big summer transfer window, whichever division Forest find themselves in - Cooper says sorting out Yates’ future sets a good example.
Aiming high
Ryan Yates is confident his best is yet to come, after putting pen to paper on a new Nottingham Forest contract.
The midfielder has signed fresh terms which will keep him at the City Ground until 2025, with his previous deal having been due to run out in little more than a year’s time.
Yates has been in superb form for Steve Cooper’s side of late, taking his goal tally to seven for the season so far when he struck from range against Reading on Saturday.
That was the third successive game in which he has found the back of the net, having also scored against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup and away to Sheffield United.
Future addressed
Striker Keinan Davis is unsure yet what the future holds, but he says he would be open to extending his stay at Nottingham Forest.
The Aston Villa forward is spending the second half of the season on loan at the City Ground, having made the switch on the first day of the January transfer window.
And he has made a great impact so far, with Saturday’s brace against Reading taking his tally to four goals in 13 games for Steve Cooper’s side, while his all-round play has been terrific.
Having struggled for regular game time with Villa, Davis says he is enjoying getting plenty of minutes in the Garibaldi and is “loving” his time on the banks of the Trent.
