Nottingham Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi has provided an update on his injured players - and there are mixed fortunes.
Ryan Yates is in contention to make his first appearance of the season at Wigan Athletic on Sunday, having undergone knee surgery in the summer.
But Samba Sow (hamstring), Alfa Semedo (back) and Michael Dawson (calf) are all ruled out of the trip to the DW Stadium as the Reds look to make it 11 Championship games unbeaten.
Defender Dawson was forced off in the 3-2 victory at Stoke City last month and will not make the trip this weekend as he continues his recovery.
“He has started to run on the pitch, so he will be back really soon,” Lamouchi said.
“That is good news, very good news. He is so close with the team and the players - a very good captain.
“But Wigan would be impossible.
“He won’t travel because he needs to work on his recovery.”
Semedo has missed Forest’s last four games, while fellow midfielder Sow limped off in the victory over Brentford just before the international break.
“Samba Sow and Alfa Semedo, they need more days - more weeks, maybe - to work with the medical department,” Lamouchi said.
“I hope they will not be out for too long.
“Alfa will be back very soon, I hope, because he is a really important player for us. He has huge potential and we need him.
“Samba is a different injury and maybe he needs more time. It is his hamstring, so it will be a few weeks.
“We need to take care of him because he is also an important player and we don’t want to take a risk.
“It is disappointing, but it gives an opportunity for someone else, like John Bostock, like Tiago Silva, like Ryan Yates, to play in this position.”
Lamouchi admits it leaves him with a decision to make in midfield.
Yates has recovered following a minor operation to cure a long-standing knee problem which had flared up again when he reported back for pre-season training, while the Reds boss has also been impressed with Bostock.
“The international break was good to give more time to, for one example, Ryan Yates. He is back with us," Lamouchi said.
“After the first week of the summer he was out of the group, so it is good to see Ryan ready and with us.
“He looks good. He will help us, of course.
“He is powerful and fresh, but we need to be careful with his knee problem.
“But until now everything is perfect.
“It is another option, and I like to have a different option. I cannot complain about having different options.
“It is good for the team, so it is good for everyone."
Bostock meanwhile, has made three appearances in the Garibaldi so far - his last coming in the Carabao Cup win over Derby County in August.
“He can help us because he has a fantastic, amazing left foot," Lamouchi said.
“He just needs to play more simple and trust in himself because he can help the team. He can find a fantastic pass, like Tiago, in this position.
“They are different players.
“Ryan has a different profile than Bostock and Tiago.
“It is good to have many options."
