Injury worries
Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi hopes injuries to midfielders Alfa Semedo and John Bostock are not too serious.
The duo missed Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat at Arsenal after picking up knocks in training ahead of the third round tie.
Semedo had come off the bench in the Reds’ previous outing, against Barnsley at the weekend, while his team-mate was an unused substitute in that game.
It left Lamouchi with limited options against the Gunners, with one eye also on Friday night’s trip to face Stoke City in the league.
Manager's message
Head coach Sabri Lamouchi says his Nottingham Forest players can hold their heads high despite their 5-0 Carabao Cup thumping at Arsenal.
And he is confident it will not affect the Reds’ league form when they look to bounce back on Friday night with a televised game at Stoke City.
Defeat at the hands of the Premier League Gunners was only the second of the season in all competitions for Lamouchi’s men, the other coming on the opening day against West Bromwich Albion.
A promotion push remains the priority, and they have the chance to go top of the Championship table if they beat the Potters.
'A greater concern'
Forget the 5-0 scoreline against Arsenal for a moment, there’s a greater concern I have about Nottingham Forest and their potential for progress this season, writes Reds legend Garry Birtles.
In the previous two games, 180 minutes of football, they’ve managed just two shots on target, in fact, they’ve had less than five in each league outing since the 3-0 win over Birmingham.
In the draw with Preston on Trentside recently, there was just two.
Chances being created is something of a wider concern – I don’t just mean at Arsenal as that was never an easy mission against good players on their own patch.
New club
Jamie Ward says he has had a “frustrating” time since leaving Nottingham Forest, but is hoping to hit the ground running after signing for Scunthorpe United.
The 33-year-old attacker was released by the Reds this summer after four years at the club and says he had a number of offers before signing for the Iron.
Free agent Ward has put pen to paper on a short-term deal with the League Two side, until January.
“It’s been frustrating, but luckily enough I’ve had a platform to do pre-season down at Burton Albion,” he said of his spell without a club.
