Keinan Davis has been ordered back to Aston Villa for pre-season but could yet return for Nottingham Forest if they reach the play-off final.
Loanee striker Davis will miss the rest of the regular season for Nottingham Forest with a hamstring injury. The striker has been a big hit on loan at promotion-chasing Forest from Premier League Aston Villa. He has scored five goals and got two assists in 19 appearances for Steve Cooper’s side, who are fifth and also reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.
But Davis, 24, injured his hamstring in their defeat at Luton on Good Friday and has since been ruled out of Forest’s five remaining games. The striker’s injury from April 15 has been assessed and given a four-five week recovery time-frame.
It means the striker, who is doing his rehab at Forest, could return if they end up in the play-offs with the Championship play-off final scheduled for May 29 and keeps alive the prospect of Davis still playing a role in Forest’s promotion push.
Forest are interested in signing the powerful frontman permanently if they are promoted to the Premier League. But Villa boss Steven Gerrard, appointed in November, has told Davis to return in pre-season to be assessed if he fits into the club’s plans.
Gerrard also plans to do the same with Cameron Archer, 20, which will affect Preston North End's hopes of keeping hot-shot next term. The fellow forward is on loan at Deepdale and has scored seven goals in 17 appearances for the Lilywhites. North End boss Ryan Lowe has already been in touch with Gerrard to discuss the prospect of the forward returning to Lancashire next term.
But Villa want a close look at their prospects in pre-season and at present, do not intend to loan Archer out again in 2022/23. Gerrard believes Archer's price-tag is already high and wants more forward competition at Villa next year. “Ryan (Lowe) phoned me and asked for him back next season," said Gerrard.
"I told him to tell Peter Ridsdale to get his noughts out if he's wanting him on a full-time basis! I also said that he won't be available for a loan, because the idea of the loan is to give him some experience to get him back in the group and to have a positive pre-season.
"I want more forward options in the No.9 position, if you like, so we'll analyse Cam in pre-season and we'll make the decision from there. He's a big, bright prospect here. Ryan's done a good job with him. Preston have given him a really good opportunity but everyone wants Cam Archer and everyone wants Keinan Davis. Good players cost an awful lot of money."
