Head coach Steve Cooper has indicated this will be a crucial month for Nottingham Forest as work continues behind the scenes in preparation for the 2023/24 campaign.
For the players, however, it is an opportunity to rest and recuperate - something which will be especially welcome for those who have been struggling with injuries. Having key men sidelined for significant spells added to the challenges the Reds faced in their first season back in the Premier League.
Forest will hope for better fortune on that front next term. Following last week's publication of the club's retained list, here is a look at the injury state of play concerning those still on the books.
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Danilo
Injury: Unknown.
What we know: The midfielder limped off with little more than 15 minutes to go of the victory over Arsenal which secured safety, having tried to continue for as long as he could after picking up a knock. He had also looked uncomfortable when brought off against Chelsea and had been a doubt to face Southampton prior to that due to a suspected hamstring problem suffered at Brentford.
Felipe
Injury: Unknown.
What we know: Brought off with 10 minutes left against the Gunners, the defender was then classed as a doubt for the final match of the campaign. As with Danilo, he wasn't risked and was left out of the squad.
What has been said: “Felipe and Danilo both came off as well and are doubts for the game," Cooper said before the Crystal Palace clash. "We’ll see about them. We’ve still got a day or two until the game, so we’ll see how they are.”
Neco Williams
Injury: Fractured jaw.
What we know: It didn't look good when the defender was stretchered off in the second half of the 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, following a collision with Brennan Johnson. He was taken to hospital, where he underwent an operation which ruled him out for the rest of the season.
He has since been included in the Wales squad for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey. He will be assessed by the medical team upon linking up with his country, with a decision to be made about whether he is fit to play.
What has been said: "He’s not played minutes because of the significance of the injury but he will be fit for camp," Wales boss Rob Page has said. "You can’t take away every risk and I think he’s got a protection to wear for that reason. He’s so many weeks down the line so I’d think the opportunity of a refracture is very unlikely. We’ll get the medical team to assess him on camp and take away the risk as much as possible."
At the time of Williams' injury, Cooper said: "When you saw the collision on the pitch and him being stretchered off, you always feared the worse. Unfortunately it is bad news, with the fractured jaw.
“He has had an operation, which has gone well in a difficult situation for him, and it rules him out for the season. Now he is on the road to recovery.
“It is a difficult situation for him. He got himself back into the team recently and was playing really well. He had a confidence about him and a spring in his step. It's a blow for us and definitely a blow for him.”
Williams said in a post on social media: "I am gutted to say my seasons over for sustaining a broken jaw. I will do everything I can to help my teammates bring home those points every game.”
Scott McKenna
Injury: Fractured collarbone.
What we know: Making only his second appearance since recovering from a hamstring problem which had kept him out since February, the defender was forced off after half an hour against Liverpool. He had taken a blow while defending a set-piece, and after receiving treatment on the pitch he walked off looking uncomfortable and clutching his side. He has since been seen with his arm in a sling.
What has been said: “It’s not great news, unfortunately. He’s fractured his collarbone, so that’s him done for the season,” Cooper has said.
“It’s a blow. A real blow for him, having just returned back from a hamstring injury and worked so hard to get back.
“He’s a great professional, who always gives his best in everything he does. For him to suffer the bad luck he has done with this injury is really unfortunate.
“He’s naturally down. He’s a fairly positive guy anyway and is pretty low key, he just gets on with his work. He’s a good team man. He would have loved to have continued to commit everything for the rest of the season, but unfortunately that’s not the case.”
Gustavo Scarpa
Injury: Calf.
What we know: The Brazilian had been classed as a doubt to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first game after the March international break. He didn't make it for the 1-1 draw, but he did come on for the final minutes at Elland Road. However, that 2-1 defeat at Leeds United proved to be his final involvement of the season.
What has been said: “Gustavo Scarpa is not so fortunate, he has picked up a little recurrence with his calf, so he’s not been with us for the last few days," Cooper said prior to the Arsenal match.
Chris Wood
Injury: Thigh.
What we know: The striker was ruled out for the rest of the season with a thigh injury he suffered while on international duty with New Zealand in March. It is on his other leg and unrelated to the knock he took against Tottenham Hotspur which left him with a huge lump on his thigh. Having had an operation, he is not expected back until at least mid-July.
What has been said: “It was something that was a really unfortunate situation, at the training ground," Cooper has explained. "We got the scans from New Zealand and then made second and third checks, as you do with these things, once he got back. The player was obviously involved in the process, as always, but we had no alternative other than to operate.
"So we're looking at a long period out. It will be middle of pre-season, if we're lucky, not the start. If it all goes well then we're looking at mid-July.
"But we'll support him as best we can. He's a very positive guy. It's just an unfortunate situation that does happen in elite sport.
"We'll give him the best recovery. For sure, he'll commit to that 100 percent; having worked with him now for a few months, I can see how professional he is. Hopefully he gets back at the right time."
Omar Richards
Injury: Hairline fracture of leg.
What we know: The left-back is yet to make his debut in the Garibaldi after making the move from Bayern Munich last summer. He was involved in part-training before the World Cup break, and was in the group which travelled to Greece as part of the preparations for the restart.
However, just when he had started to make progress, the defender suffered another setback. As a result, the decision was taken to leave him out of Forest's 25-man Premier League squad for the second half of the season. He was seen at the Nigel Doughty Academy last month as he continues his rehabilitation with a view to being fit for next term.
What has been said: "Omar is still getting close. He's not back training with us yet,” Cooper recently said.
Of the decision to omit him from the squad list, the Welshman previously said: “Unfortunately, Omar has had a setback with his recovery. He was just about ready to train again.
"He’s had a tough period. For me, how you deal with the difficult moments and how you recover from them is how you end up being who you are. We’re continuing that message with Omar, saying, maybe all of this is happening for a bit of a reason, to be where you’re going to end up for us.
“We don’t think anything less of him. In fact, we think more of him.
“We feel a bit sorry for him sometimes, because he’s had setbacks - but he doesn’t want that. It hasn’t really changed our plans for him, in terms of what we thought he might give us; we’re just having to wait a bit longer for him. But he’ll get there, I’m sure.”
Giulian Biancone
Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament.
What we know: An ACL injury suffered in an innocuous incident in training prior to the match against Brentford in November ruled the summer signing out for the rest of the season. His teammates showed their support by wearing t-shirts bearing his name, shirt number (2) and the phrase '#together' during their warm-up before facing the Bees.
He underwent surgery in Austria and did part of his rehabilitation in Italy. He returned Trentside for the run-in, but was unable to feature in the remaining games - even if fully fit - as he was not included in the 25-man Premier League squad.
What has been said: "Giulian is back and it's been great to see him,” said Cooper. “It's a real big step for him to be back with us, back in the city and back on the pitch but in his rehab, not training with the group.
"The players were really pleased to see him. He's a popular lad, a nice guy and has shown a great determination. We've been speaking to him this week about when he does actually return, now the injury has happened, how much stronger mentally he feels he will be as a footballer, because he will be grateful of playing.”
Biancone bid farewell to the Isokinetic centre in Italy and announced his return to the City Ground by posting a message on social media. He wrote: “I particularly like this picture because it shows two extraordinary people with whom I spent 5 months of great quality, Anto and Lore.
“With this last moment immortalised there, I would like to thank all the people I worked with at @isokinetic_officialpage from near and far. I discovered a beautiful city in a country that is particularly close to my heart, Italy, the land of my ancestors!
“But now it’s time to finally go home, where I feel most comfortable, next to the world famous City Ground in Nottingham and help my team achieve the main objective of this season, to stay in the best league in the world. Can’t wait to see y’all YOU REDS.” He has since posted pictures of himself going through his paces at the Nigel Doughty Academy.
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