Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper put midfielder Orel Mangala’s substitution down to “fatigue” in the 1-1 draw at Everton.
The summer signing caused a scare when he was withdrawn in the second half at Goodison Park, having required treatment on the pitch. But Cooper suggested taking him off was more precautionary than anything else, after the 24-year-old had put in an impressive performance.
It comes as the Reds have already been dealt another injury blow, with defender Moussa Niakhate set for “a few months” on the sidelines with a hamstring problem. Fellow new arrival Omar Richards is also out of action for a significant spell, with a hairline fracture of the leg, while Jack Colback has been missing recently due to illness.
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“It was fatigue, I think, more than anything,” Cooper said of Mangala. “The last thing we want now, with the players we’ve got on the bench, is injuries from fatigue.
“A lot of players are really still getting up to speed, coming in late in pre-season; because they were having moves, maybe they weren’t training as hard as other players at their teams because they (their teammates) were getting ready for games. Some players are coming back from injury.
“We’ve been playing a bit of catch-up with that. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks with someone like Orel today.
“It was another good start for him. Great that he’s played again in the Prem. He’s a good guy.”
Forest took the lead against the Toffees through Brennan Johnson’s first Premier League goal. But they were left frustrated at not taking all three points, with Demarai Gray levelling for the hosts late on.
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