Your latest Nottingham Forest headlines from NottinghamshireLive on Saturday, December 17.
Steve Cooper provides Nottingham Forest injury update after Valencia victory
Head coach Steve Cooper eased injury fears over Morgan Gibbs-White after the attacker was forced off in Nottingham Forest’s friendly victory over Valencia.
The summer signing took a knock towards the end of the first half at the Mestalla Stadium and was replaced by Brennan Johnson as the visitors rounded off their World Cup break with a 2-1 win. With less than a week to go before the competitive action resumes, Cooper was taking no risks with any of his squad.
Defender Serge Aurier had been substituted in the friendly defeat to Olympiacos last weekend, and did not feature in Spain, while Jack Colback did not travel due to also picking up a knock. Neco Williams and Remo Freuler have both returned from international duty at the World Cup but were absent for personal reasons.
Valencia vs Nottingham Forest player ratings: Scarpa impresses, Awoniyi and Dennis score
Nottingham Forest signed off their winter break with a 2-1 victory over Valencia in their final friendly before the season resumes.
The visitors had been on the back foot for much of the first half as they struggled to get a foothold in the game. But they held the advantage at the break, thanks to Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal five minutes before the whistle.
Lewis O’Brien went close to opening the scoring inside the first minute, forcing a decent save from Mamardashvili from Morgan Gibbs-White’s square ball. Chances were at a premium after that, however, as the hosts dominated possession.
Cheikhou Kouyate breaks silence following World Cup injury nightmare
Nottingham Forest star Cheikhou Kouyate has updated fans on his recovery from a torn hamstring, proclaiming that he faces a "fight renewed every morning."
The 32-year-old was stretchered off following a collision with Frenkie de Jong during Senegal's opening match of the World Cup against the Netherlands, with boss Alou Cisse, initially, believing that he had suffered a twisted ankle and could return to fitness imminently.
However, the initial diagnosis proved to be incorrect, leaving the Reds "extremely frustrated" with Senegal's handling of the former Crystal Palace and West Ham utility man.
Nottingham Forest and Tottenham may have already missed out on January transfer
Nottingham Forest look like they have missed out on signing Morroco international Walid Cheddira as a Premier League transfer for the striker is reportedly 'increasingly unlikely'.
Cheddira, 24, made a pair of appearances for Morocco during their run to the World Cup semi-finals. The centre-forward came on as a substitute in the two previous rounds against, first Spain and then Portugal in the quarter-finals, but was shown two yellow cards in the space of two minutes in the latter, meaning the player was suspended for the match against France.
The striker now has one more chance to impress in the third-place play-off against Croatia on Saturday before returning to his club side Bari, who play in the Italian second division. After scoring 14 goals in 15 matches so far this season, a step up to the top-flight seems imminent.
