Michael Dawson’s return to the matchday squad was a big boost for Nottingham Forest, even if Sabri Lamouchi did not involve him on the pitch.
Dawson made himself available to Lamouchi for Saturday’s battling 1-0 win over Derby County at a packed out City Ground on Saturday, although the Forest boss resisted the temptation to throw him back in the starting XI alongside Joe Worrall.
The experienced Reds campaigner had missed the previous five Championship games after limping out of the 3-2 win at Stoke in late September with a calf problem.
Despite having Dawson fit and available, the 36-year-old had come through just three training sessions in the build-up to the , and that left Lamouchi with a risk he deemed too high to chance.
“Before the international break and he only had three training sessions,” said the Forest boss.
“I couldn’t take a risk, for me, for us, for him.”
As is customary before games, the Reds stayed together in a local hotel on Friday night with Lamouchi welcoming Dawson back into the fold, to offer his experience and guidance in how to deal with such an emotionally charged atmosphere and at times, tense occasion.
“We decided together to take Michael with us to the hotel before the game, he was very important for me, very important for the group that he will be ready,” he said.
Lamouchi confirmed on Thursday that Dawson was available, while also revealing promising news on the injury front with the likes of Yohan Benalouane and Michael Hefele.
“He (Dawson) will work and then have two days off like the rest (of the injured players). Benalouane, Hefele, Samba Sow, Alfa Semedo and Carl Jenkinson.
“So it’s more good news after good news, so I’m happy for that,” added the Forest head coach.
