Nottingham Forest will make a late call on Ryan Yates’ fitness for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United.
The midfielder was substituted just before half-time of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, with boss Steve Cooper saying he had felt unwell during the game. He had also been forced off a week earlier, against Leicester City, after taking a whack to the face.
Cooper says there is still a question mark over whether Yates will be available to take on United at the City Ground. The 25-year-old had been replaced by debutant Danilo on the south coast, but Jack Colback and Lewis O’Brien could also come into contention for a starting spot if Yates does not get the green light.
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“He was just feeling a bit unwell during the game. Whether there’s a bit of a virus going on or what not, we’re getting to the bottom of,” Cooper said of Yates, ahead of the midweek clash.
“Whether he will be available for Wednesday, we don’t know yet. Everyone else was fine from the weekend, so we’re as we were.”
An extensive injury list appears to be easing slightly for the Reds. Defender Willy Boly made his comeback from an ankle problem against the Cherries, although a lack of training meant he did not complete the full 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, Jesse Lingard was an unused substitute at the Vitality Stadium. The attacker has been sidelined with a hamstring issue since Forest’s 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford in the league last month. He will no doubt be keen to face his former club again.
“He’s back training,” Cooper said of Lingard. “He wasn’t quite ready at the weekend to start, but definitely ready to be involved, although he didn’t get chance to contribute because the game went a certain way (with the early Yates substitution).
“He’s trained since, so he’s definitely up for selection. What we decide to go with, we’ll see, but he’s back in the mix.”
Last week, Cooper had said he hoped defenders Omar Richards (hairline fracture of the leg) and Moussa Niakhate (hamstring) would return to full training within the next fortnight. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson (thigh) and striker Taiwo Awoniyi (groin) are expected to be ruled out for significant spells, while Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring) and Giulian Biancone (ACL) remain long-term absentees.
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