Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper hopes Jack Colback and Ryan Yates will be available for Saturday’s play-off semi-final first leg against Sheffield United.
The duo were left out of the matchday squad for the Reds’ final match of the regular season, against Hull City. Colback had been struggling with a groin problem, while his teammate took a knock to the shoulder in the defeat at Bournemouth. Cooper says they will be given “every chance” to feature at Bramall Lane.
Defender Scott McKenna had been an unused substitute last weekend due to illness but is fine to face the Blades. Djed Spence, Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge all came off the bench in that clash, with Forest not wanting to take any risks ahead of the crucial double-header.
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Opposition view
Morgan Gibbs-White has claimed that Sheffield United are "hungrier" than Nottingham Forest ahead of the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.
Forest travel to Bramall Lane on Saturday (3pm) for the first leg of their play-off tie before hosting Paul Heckingbottom's men at the City Ground on Tuesday (May 17, 7.45pm). Both meetings between the two sides this season have ended 1-1, with Ryan Yates heading a 95th-minute equaliser in Sheffield back in March.
Speaking prior to Saturday highly-anticipated contest, Gibbs-White backed his team going into the double-header having ended the regular campaign with three straight wins - including a 4-0 win over champions Fulham. "It's going to be a tough test Saturday but I really believe we've got it," said the Blades' player of the season.
"I wouldn't say there's a favourite, I'd say we're definitely more hungrier. I feel like with the last games we've had and the form we've been in we're the most feared team right now out of the four."
Uncertain future
On-loan Nottingham Forest striker Nuno Da Costa says his future remains up in the air as his spell with Caen comes to an end.
The 31-year-old has spent the season with the French outfit, bagging nine goals and weighing in with four assists in 23 appearances. He has previously said talks have been held with Caen about a permanent move, although reports have suggested his wages could be a stumbling block.
But Da Costa remains under contract at the City Ground until 2023, and he says discussions with the Reds are on hold while they prepare to face Sheffield United in the play-offs. The front man also hints he has interest from elsewhere ahead of a “key” summer.
Asked whether he could stay with his loan club, Da Costa told Sporta Caen in a translated interview: “Yes, why not. Afterwards, I am under contract in Nottingham.
Cup defeat
Nottingham Forest Under-18s have been told to use the hurt of losing in the FA Youth Cup final to spur them on in their drive to have successful careers.
A controversially-awarded penalty proved to be a turning point in the game as Warren Joyce’s Reds fell 3-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Josh Powell had drawn the visitors level before the break, only for a spot-kick to be given against Zach Abbott for a foul which replays showed clearly took place outside the area.
Alejandro Garnacho fired home, and added a second to wrap up the victory. But the final scoreline did not reflect the visitors’ performance, which came in front of a record 67,000 crowd featuring almost 6,000 away fans.
“The way you conduct yourself in losing and winning tells you a lot about the person. I thought we conducted ourselves well after the game,” said Joyce, who spent almost a decade at United.
