Nottingham Forest are still waiting to hear if they have been successful in their bid to reinstate Steve Cook into their 25-man squad.
The defender was left out when the Reds submitted their list after the January transfer window closed. But he has continued to train with the first-team, and the club want him back in amid an injury crisis at the back.
The Premier League rejected Forest’s initial request for Cook to replace Willy Boly, who is facing at least three months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem. An appeal was then submitted, but the governing body are yet to provide a response.
READ MORE: Aurier injury update provided as Forest prepare for West Ham clash
READ MORE: Antonio issues Forest message ahead of West Ham clash with old club
“We’ve not heard yet. We’re still hopeful,” said head coach Steve Cooper ahead of Saturday’s trip to face West Ham United.
“If something comes through before the weekend, then that could help. We’ve got our fingers crossed.”
Asked if he would have expected to have heard by now, Cooper added: “You’d hope. But we’ll stick to the process and see what comes of it.”
Scott McKenna was forced off at the exact same time as Boly against Fulham earlier this month, also due to a hamstring problem. He is expected to be absent for about six weeks.
Moussa Niakhate is in the latter stages of recovery from a hamstring injury of his own which has kept him out of action since August. Cooper has previously indicated the summer signing is likely to need game time with the Reds’ Under-21s before he is available for the senior side.
That has left Joe Worrall and Felipe as the only fit centre-backs available to Cooper. Full-back Serge Aurier is capable of playing there but has now picked up a calf strain.
The Forest boss had said at the weekend of the club’s decision to appeal over Cook: “We applied and it got rejected, so now we’ve appealed. We can’t understand why it’s been rejected, looking at the rules and some things which have gone on in previous years. We’re hopeful the appeal is successful.
“Fingers crossed there will be news this week. Or hopefully, they stick to the rules and we’ll be okay.”
What do you make of the situation? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT
