Sabri Lamouchi has demanded his Nottingham Forest players return from the latest international break in better shape than the previous one.
Forest went on a 10-game unbeaten run prior to October’s pause for internationals, form which also saw the Frenchman become the first City Ground chief to collect a Manager of the Month award since Billy Davies in 2013.
Unfortunately, the break appeared to arrive at a bad time for Forest, returning to action with successive defeats at Wigan and then three days later in front of their own supporters against Hull, without scoring a goal.
Since the reverse to the Tigers and a frustrating postponement with Reading, Lamouchi's men have reacted well, winning at Luton before winning a third straight game against Derby County.
This time, however, Forest will know exactly what faces them on Saturday when Championship football takes pride of place once more and they face a stern test of their promotion credentials at Bristol City, a side only below them on goal difference.
“Rest, of course I will enjoy my rest,” Lamouchi said of his plans for the final break of 2019, before the festive period takes hold.
“We will come back to work, to try to come back in a better way than the last international break and to prepare for the Bristol City game,” he told Nottinghamshire Live.
Lamouchi also highlighted the importance of leading striker Lewis Grabban, following his seventh goal of a prolific start to the season which was enough to see off Derby last time out.
“He’s a fantastic striker, he works a lot for the team. He’s fighting, he creates space for the other players.
“Grabban is our finisher.”
