Your Nottingham Forest digest for Saturday, December 24.
Reds plot January signings
Nottingham Forest ’s injury situation will have an impact on the club’s plans for January as the transfer window nears.
Long-term absentees Omar Richards (hairline fracture of the leg) and Moussa Niakhate (hamstring) have been joined on the sidelines by fellow defender Giulian Biancone, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury. Additionally, midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate is expected to be out of action for at least the next two months after suffering a torn hamstring during Senegal’s opening match at the World Cup.
Next month will not be anywhere near as busy as the summer, when 22 new faces arrived at the City Ground. However, strengthening attacking resources is a priority, and being without key players going into a crucial part of the season means Forest are expected to look at bolstering their ranks in midfield and at centre-back.
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Forest given Djed Spence hope
The chances of Nottingham Forest promotion hero Djed Spence returning to the City Ground have been given a boost.
Since switching to north London, game time has been hard to come by, with just three minutes of Premier League action this season for the 22-year-old. According to The Times, Tottenham would like to send Spence out on loan in the January transfer window.
Zaha shuts down Forest question
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has insisted he is "not a chicken" after missing a penalty against Nottingham Forest.
Zaha failed to convert from the spot in the last game before the World Cup, with Forest going on to win 1-0 and take some momentum into the international break. The misfortune continued for Zaha when he missed another penalty in a friendly against Botafogo on December 3, but he converted against Real Valladolid last Friday.
Asked if Zaha thought about no longer taking penalties for Palace, he snapped back with a comment about him not being a chicken. The question seemed to have gotten under Zaha's skin, especially after the miss against Forest.
Cooper provides injury update
Head coach Steve Cooper remains "hopeful" Morgan Gibbs-White, Serge Aurier and Wayne Hennessey will be available for Nottingham Forest’s clash with Manchester United.
The trio were not involved in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers. Gibbs-White took a kick in the first half of Forest’s friendly victory over Valencia prior to the trip to Ewood Park and was immediately substituted, while Aurier felt a twinge in his calf against Olympiacos.
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