With 15 games to go, Nottingham Forest are entering a crucial period of the Premier League season.
And they face a big match this weekend, against West Ham United. The Reds head to the capital sitting five points above their opponents, who are 18th in the table.
Improving their away form is a key target for Steve Cooper’s side, having notched just one win and scored three goals on the road in the league so far this term. As they look to change that record at the London Stadium, we pick out some of the things which have stood out in training from pictures and videos posted on the club’s social media accounts this week.
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Looking sharp
Jesse Lingard is available to face his former club after overcoming injury troubles, although it remains to be seen whether he is involved against the Hammers. Cooper has said he will not rush the attacker back into action - likewise with Ryan Yates, who is back after illness.
But footage showed Lingard and Sam Surridge in shooting practice earlier this week. And the pair of them looked particularly sharp. As ever, Lingard seemed to be in particularly good spirits.
Awaiting news
Steve Cook has continued to train with the first-team, despite being left out of the 25-man squad submitted after the January transfer window closed. And he can be seen in the thick of the action in glimpses of the Reds being put through their paces.
The club are waiting to hear whether they have been successful in their bid to reinstate Cook into the squad as they cope with a shortage of centre-backs. An initial request for him to replace the injured Willy Boly was rejected by the Premier League, but an appeal has since been submitted.
Keepers' union
Goalkeepers often have a unique bond among themselves, given they spend time training away from the outfield players. Keylor Navas, Wayne Hennessey, plus youngsters George Shelvey and Nicky Hogarth were shown going through their own separate drills.
For Shelvey and Hogarth, being able to learn from someone of Navas’ calibre will be of huge benefit. The PSG loanee approaches training with the same focus and commitment as he does games.
All smiles
Cooper has spoken about the excellent spirit in the camp, and it’s evident ahead of Saturday’s key clash. Plenty of smiles are on show in pictures of the sessions.
Yates had a particularly big grin on his face as he returned to full training earlier in the week. And the head coach can be seen sharing a light moment with Brennan Johnson in one image.
It seems January arrivals Gustavo Scarpa, Felipe and Danilo are settling in well, too, with a nice picture of the three of them posing for the camera. Along with Renan Lodi, the Brazilian contingent are helping each other to feel at home.
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