Steve Cooper says it is “inconclusive” when Nottingham Forest defender Moussa Niakhate will return from injury.
The summer signing has been sidelined with a hamstring problem since the 1-0 victory over West Ham United in August. He remains some way off making a comeback but Cooper is confident he will still have a part to play in the Premier League campaign.
Niakhate has made two appearances for the Reds so far, having been forced off late on in that City Ground clash with the Hammers. He linked up with the Senegal squad during the last international break and was named on the bench for a match against Bolivia, but then returned to the UK early to continue his rehabilitation.
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The 26-year-old was on crutches at the City Ground to watch his teammates beat Liverpool last month. It is unlikely he will feature for Forest in their three games before the World Cup break, with matches against Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup, and Crystal Palace to come before the season pauses for six weeks.
"It's a bit inconclusive, really. I'm sure he'll play this season. We'll see how the next stage of his rehab goes and hopefully getting through it,” head coach Cooper said ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the Bees.
"It's been stop-start, in terms of his recovery. It's been not a straight forward injury, for sure, which is nobody's fault, it's just how it's been. Hopefully he has a bit of good fortune now, in having a clear run to get fit again.”
The Reds have been hit by a number of defensive injuries. Giulian Biancone became the latest to be ruled out and will not feature again this term after suffering an ACL injury in training. Harry Toffolo (hamstring) and Omar Richards (hairline fracture of the leg) are also out of action, while midfielder Jack Colback has recently been struggling with a back issue.
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