Here’s the latest Nottingham Forest news on Tuesday, 25 April, 2023.
Pundit questions Cooper decision
Pundit Garth Crooks believes it "was a pity" that Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson was left on the bench against Liverpool.
Head coach Steve Cooper made the decision to name Johnson among the substitutes amid a heavy fixture build-up, though the Wales international came off the bench in the second half.
Crooks thinks Forest might have come away from Anfield with a result if Johnson was in the starting XI, and has backed the Reds to put up a good fight in the remaining games of the season.
“Nobody expected Nottingham Forest to go and win at Anfield, least of all Steve Cooper, who left his leading goalscorer Brennan Johnson on the bench which was a pity really," Crooks told BBC Sport .
READ MORE: Jonjo Shelvey told to ‘stay at home’ after ‘furious’ Nottingham Forest reaction
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest injury update prompts ‘terrible’ response
Big injury blow
Nottingham Forest defender Scott McKenna has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured collarbone.
On only his second appearance since returning from a hamstring problem which had kept him out since February, the 26-year-old was forced off after half an hour of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Liverpool. And he is now set to miss the Reds’ remaining six games as they fight to stay in the Premier League .
With Willy Boly still sidelined with a hamstring issue, it leaves Joe Worrall, Felipe and Moussa Niakhate as the centre-backs available to Cooper. It also adds to Forest’s injury woes as they continue to have a long list of players absent.
Further injury update
Nottingham Forest duo Cheikhou Kouyate and Serge Aurier are making steady progress as they recover from their respective injuries.
Midfielder Kouyate was forced off in the Reds’ 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa earlier this month with a hamstring problem. The match at Villa Park was his first start since returning from another hamstring issue which had required surgery and had kept him out for four months.
Right-back Aurier, meanwhile, picked up a knock while on duty for his country during the last international break. He was substituted during Ivory Coast's 3-1 win over Comoros and has not featured in Forest’s five games since.
Cooper’s Jonjo Shelvey stance
Nottingham Forest midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was not involved in the matchday squad against former club Liverpool after being told to ‘stay at home’ by manager Steve Cooper .
The Telegraph reports that there was a confrontation between the two during a team meeting ahead of the match. It is said that Shelvey took exception to being named on the bench for the weekend’s clash at Anfield.
The former Newcastle United midfielder was an unused substitute for the home loss against Manchester United the week before, but has also been battling with a slight calf injury. Cooper was reported to be unhappy with the player’s performances in training last week, leading to the decision to name him on the bench.
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