Nottingham Forest will again be without midfielder Samba Sow for Friday night’s Championship clash with Millwall.
The 30-year-old has missed the last three games with the recurrence of a knee problem, and head coach Sabri Lamouchi has ruled him out of facing the Lions under the City Ground lights.
It is hoped he will be back for the trip to Sheffield Wednesday a week on Saturday, though the Reds are likely to still be missing Tiago Silva by then as he continues to recover from surgery for appendicitis.
“Sow will be out for Millwall, unfortunately,” Lamouchi said. “But probably with a good surprise for the next one - although the next one is very soon.
“If he will be with us in Sheffield, he will have missed just four games.
“We just have to keep going and find the right solution - what else can we do?
“We have to be patient.
“He will be with us again very soon, I think.”
Ryan Yates has started the last two matches in Sow’s absence, and found the back of the net in Monday’s 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough.
He was replaced late on at the Riverside Stadium by John Bostock, who came on for his first runout since November.
And Lamouchi hasn’t ruled out the Toulouse loanee being in his thoughts for Friday.
“Of course, like everyone in the group,” the Frenchman said. “I never say it is definitive.
“He is very professional and was always focused in the training sessions, focused on the job.
“I need to take some decisions. People will agree or not, but I need to take some decisions for the team, for the club.
“I have a good group of professional players. I have a good dressing room.
“They are all focused on the same goal. That is really important and very positive.”
