Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has revealed that they have applied to the Premier League to register a player amid their ongoing injury troubles.
Defensive partners Scott McKenna and Willy Boly limped off during their 1-0 defeat to Fulham last weekend. Scans on their respective problems have made for sore reading for Forest as they're set for an extended period on the sidelines.
Last season's Championship play-off winners sit six points off Everton and the drop zone ahead of their clash with league leaders Manchester City this weekend. However, they have Joe Worrall and January signing Felipe available despite signing 29 players since their return to the Premier League.
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Moussa Niakhate is yet to make an appearance since his move from Mainz as he builds fitness following a layoff, prompting Cooper to appeal to the Premier League to register Steve Cook. He was omitted from their 25-man squad, submitted at the start of the month, after turning down loan bids from a host of Championship clubs.
"Scott's going to be out for six weeks more or less, it's a blow. Willy [Boly] even worse, looking longer than three months so not the news we were hoping for, we were concerned with how early they both went off at Fulham," the 43-year-old said. "The scan was going to detail the extent of the injury and not great information on either of them, so ruled out for a while. It adds to the injury list of course but something we have to get on with.
"We've applied through Premier League rules to bring Steve Cook into the 25-man squad which we're more than hoping that will be fine looking at how the rules are set up.
"We're just expecting it to happen with the circumstances we find ourselves in so that's a positive as well on the back of the injuries, I repeat disappointment for the lads who are injured but our focus has to be on the guys who are available and prepare as normal for the games."
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