Nottingham Forest will again be without the injured trio of Samba Sow, Yuri Ribeiro and Carl Jenkinson for tomorrow’s clash with Middlesbrough.
Midfielder Sow has been sidelined since October with a hamstring problem, while Jenkinson has been out since August with an ankle injury and fellow full-back Ribeiro (knee) since the clash with Derby County last month.
Head coach Sabri Lamouchi had been hoping for positive news on the injury front this week, ahead of successive home games with Boro and Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
“Unfortunately no,” he said, when asked if any of the absent players would be available for the midweek match.
“For Yuri, for Samba Sow, it is too early. Carl Jenkinson, as well.
“They need a few days.
“We will see for Saturday.”
Lamouchi will, though, have Ryan Yates back from suspension, following a three-match ban for a red card at Bristol City.
The midfielder was sent off for a two-footed challenge, but his manager says he has learnt from his mistake.
“It is good to have him back. Ryan is important for the squad,” said Lamouchi.
“He was an option before and he is an option for tomorrow, for sure.
“I hope he has learnt, but I don’t have any problem with that because Ryan is a clever guy.
“We must learn about our mistakes - not only Ryan; me first and all the players.
“At the end of the day, we want the same things, so we need to learn about our mistakes.
“It was a mistake, for sure. He knows that.
“It is not only him.
“The problem is if different players make the same mistake. It is not only Ryan who needs to learn, it is all the players in the squad.
“Why? Because the small details, at the end, they are so important for us.”
