Midfielder Ryan Yates quipped that he feared for his injured shoulder as he celebrated Nottingham Forest’s penalty shootout victory over Sheffield United.
A clip has been doing the rounds on social media of Yates mistiming his leap and missing the pile-on on goalkeeper Brice Samba at the end of Tuesday night’s drama. It might not have done any good to the shoulder he took a whack to in the defeat at Bournemouth earlier this month. But there’s unlikely to be much danger of Yates missing the play-offs final.
“You try to declare him unfit,” boss Steve Cooper had joked, prior to the semi-final second leg against the Blades. And it will be no different come Wembley a week on Sunday.
Read more: Forest tipped as 'perfect destination' as exciting transfer update emerges
Read more: Riverside views and St Andrew's sadness mark out best and worst Forest away days
“I went to celebrate and fell on my shoulder! So I had to get in ASAP,” Yates grinned of the City Ground celebrations.
“The fans were brilliant. It’s great to see.
“The shoulder will be fine for Wembley. Absolutely.
“It means everything. But we’ve achieved nothing, we have to go and finish the job.
“I’m looking forward to it. No nerves, let’s go and attack the game.”
The Reds had Samba to thank for overcoming United, with the shot-stopper making three brilliant saves in the shootout to send Cooper’s side through. They will do battle with Huddersfield Town under the arch, with a promotion to the Premier League at stake.
