Nottingham Forest defender Moussa Niakhate is expected to make his return from injury this month, it has been reported.
Niakhate has been out injured since August 14, when he picked up a hamstring injury and was forced off during the 1-0 win over West Ham at the City Ground.
It was a huge blow for Niakhate, who had arrived from Mainz in the summer, to pick up the injury in just his second match for the club. A subsequent scan showed the injury to be more serious than was first hoped, and he has since suffered a number of setbacks during his recovery.
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Now according to the Telegraph, Niakhate is expected back later this month in what will be a huge boost to Steve Cooper and his squad. Cooper is targeting a new centre-half in January but will be buoyed by the return of a top player.
Speaking after the winter friendly against Olympiacos, Cooper said: “Moussa is further down the line. He’ll hopefully be getting close to the next stage of his rehab in the next few weeks."
Earlier in the defender's recovery, Cooper had explained: "It's been stop-start, in terms of his recovery. It's been not a straightforward injury, for sure, which is nobody's fault, it's just how it's been. Hopefully, he has a bit of good fortune now, in having a clear run to get fit again.”
After missing out on a place in Senegal's World Cup squad because of his injury, he said: “My recovery is going well, and I will be back stronger than ever in 2023."
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