Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi says he has been “so impressed” with defender Michael Hefele in the short time he has been back working with the first-team squad.
It is coming up to 12 months since Hefele last played for the Reds, in the New Year’s Day victory over Leeds United when Aitor Karanka was still in charge.
Since then he has been sidelined with an Achilles injury, while Karanka and then Martin O’Neill have left the club and Lamouchi was appointed in June.
Hefele has now returned to training, though given the length of his absence he is not yet ready to pull on the Garibaldi in competitive action.
But the French head coach has nevertheless been pleased with the attitude he has shown.
“I am so impressed because he was out for many, many months - not quite a year,” Lamouchi said.
“He is very positive inside the dressing room.
“The team, the physio, the medical department, they all try to help him.
“He’s a fantastic guy, very clever and very positive.
“I just want to focus on the players who are available, but I try to spend some time with him and also with the others, with all of them.
“But I need to focus on the players who will play on Saturday, next Wednesday and next Saturday against Cardiff - and Michael Hefele will not be ready for next week.”
