Goalkeeper Brice Samba has made himself undroppable for Nottingham Forest.
But head coach Sabri Lamouchi has warned he cannot afford to get complacent as the shot-stopper is too vital to the Reds’ promotion push.
Samba pulled off an outstanding save to deny Liam Cooper in his team’s 2-0 victory over Leeds United on Saturday, claiming his 12th clean-sheet of the season.
The Frenchman has now firmly established himself as Forest No.1, after Manchester City loanee Arijanet Muric had started between the posts back at the beginning of the season.
Muric has been absent from the matchday squad in recent weeks, but returned at the weekend to replace Jordan Smith as back-up keeper.
Lamouchi, though, says there is no question who is first-choice.
“I can’t change Brice Samba. I will not change Brice Samba,” he said.
“I am so clear with everyone.
“I am waiting for more from Brice Samba, and I am on to him every day, but I will not change him.
“Even with a fever, he will play; even with some pain, he will play!
“I can’t be more clear than that.
“But he needs to be very focused and help us to do the job.
“He has kept a lot of clean-sheets, but it is not only down to him, because we are defending so well.
“He is doing his job.”
