Summer signing Braian Ojeda continues to make “good progress” as he tries to catch the eye of Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper.
A long journey back from being on international duty with Paraguay contributed to him not being included in the matchday squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Reading.
And Cooper will make a decision on whether he makes the cut for tomorrow night’s midweek clash at home to Luton Town.
James Garner is the most likely replacement for the suspended Ryan Yates at the City Ground. But there is the possibility Jack Colback could switch to left-back to cover for Max Lowe’s absence through injury, which would potentially mean two midfield spots up for grabs.
New to English football, Ojeda has yet to make his Reds debut. It would be a big call to throw him into the starting XI against the Hatters, with Cooper stressing the need to take things slowly.
“We have to be careful. He’s come from South America, there’s the language, and being settled on and off the pitch, it’s sometimes not a clearcut situation,” the Forest head coach told NottinghamshireLive.
“I thought it was good in some ways that he went on international duty. But the journey back was not a straightforward one, then there’s the length of it and how far away it is.
“He didn’t do any of the two weeks' training preparation for Reading, so it was difficult then to really put him in selection for that game when there are lads who have been with us for the two weeks and have really committed to the work we wanted to do.
“That’s nothing Braian has done wrong. But that’s just the situation.
“I’m calm about Braian. He’s here for the long-term, he’s making good progress, he’s got a good attitude and he’s a good player.
“We’ll see how things develop.”
Ojeda came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of a 0-0 draw with Colombia last Tuesday.
Unlike when he first put pen to paper for Forest, there was no need for him to self-isolate upon his return to England this time around.
“I think it’s well documented we might have had the choice on whether we let players go, and whether players wanted to go if it meant they’d had to isolate when they came back,” Cooper added.
“If players would have needed to isolate, I don’t think they would have gone.”
