Nottingham Forest will have Ryan Yates available for Saturday’s clash with Watford, but the Reds remain without Lewis Grabban for the trip to Vicarage Road.
Midfielder Yates has missed the last two games with a recurrence of the calf problem which had sidelined him earlier on this year.
He has got the green light to face the Hornets, but striker Grabban (hamstring), Scott McKenna (ankle) and Harry Arter (calf) are still ruled out of action.
“Lewis Grabban isn’t quite there yet,” said boss Chris Hughton.
“The good thing is Harry Arter is back in training and so is Scott McKenna.
“Ryan is fine and available.
“Realistically, Harry and Scott are probably still a couple of weeks away because they’ve both been out for a period of time.
“But sometimes we can fast-track players if we particularly need them for a game.
“It’s just trying to get that right balance with the work they’ve done and making sure that once we do get them back, they’re back for good as opposed to breaking down.”
Forest head south having been beaten 1-0 at home to Luton Town on Tuesday night - just one of three defeats in their last 16 league games.
They will come up against a Watford side who sit third in the Championship, below second-placed Brentford on goal difference.
“Watford are in good form at the moment,” said Hughton.
“They lost away to Bournemouth (last weekend) and we managed to see that game.
“It was a good game and they started really well. They changed their formation a little bit, which is one that suits the offensive players they’ve got.
“They’re right up there, competing at the top of the table. Norwich are playing really well and continue to accumulate points, but under them, there’s a real battle for second place at this moment - and they’re right in there.”
It will be a return to familiar territory for two players in the visiting camp, with striker Glenn Murray and Manchester United midfielder James Garner both having spent the first half of the season on loan at Vicarage Road.
Asked if they’d both be particularly fired up for the match, Hughton grinned: “I’d like to think they’re fired up for every game!
“But there is always that little edge and that bit of different meaning for anybody going back to a club they played at.
“We want that type of competition.
“For Glenn, it wasn’t the best period for him, as regards playing games, whereas it was for James. Watford played a part in what we are seeing from him at the moment.”
