Nottingham Forest defenders Steve Cook and Max Lowe are “on course” as they continue to recover from injuries.
Both players were forced off during the Reds’ 4-0 rout over Reading last month. And they were left facing six weeks on the sidelines.
Lowe suffered a groin problem, having to be substituted towards the end of the first half against the Royals. It is the left-back’s second spell out of action with a groin issue, although boss Steve Cooper has said “it is a slightly different injury” to the one which saw him miss two months towards the end of last year. Forest are unlikely to want to rush him back into action, even though it isn’t exactly a recurrence of his previous injury.
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Taylor's future
Boss Steve Cooper says “now is not the time” to be thinking about Lyle Taylor’s future as Nottingham Forest prepare to come up against Birmingham City.
The Reds striker made the move to St Andrew’s on loan in January, in a bid to find more game time. He has achieved that in the West Midlands, becoming a regular starter for the Blues.
And he has been finding the back of the net, too. A penalty to see off West Bromwich Albion at the weekend made it four goals in nine appearances for Taylor.
After his team’s 1-0 victory over the Baggies, Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer was coy over what might happen at the end of Taylor’s loan. But he did express his admiration for the front man and made clear he was enjoying his spell at the club.
Garner stance
Manchester United are keeping a close eye on James Garner's development at Nottingham Forest.
The 21-year-old is enjoying a fine season at the City Ground having played 33 Championship games so far this campaign. He has also netted four goals and made three assists as the Reds look to secure their place in the play-offs.
Forest are currently in the top six by two points and are in good form. They've won four league games in a row and ahead of this weekend's game against Birmingham City, Steve Cooper's men strengthened their grip on the play-off places with a win over Coventry City.
And Garner scored his fourth of the campaign against Coventry to double Forest's advantage on the night and is continuing to impress out on loan. His performances aren't going unnoticed at Old Trafford, either.
Positive update
The Nottingham Forest fan who required medical attention during Wednesday night’s victory over Coventry City is making a good recovery.
In the very epitome of “limbs” in the stands, Reds supporter Mark Hefter says he was “knocked out cold” as he enthusiastically celebrated James Garner’s goal in the 2-0 triumph over the Sky Blues. But he is now very much on the mend.
The match was temporarily paused in the second half at the City Ground, a few minutes after Manchester United loanee Garner had doubled the hosts’ lead with a rifled left-footed shot. Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba helped alert officials to an incident in the crowd, and he asked for an update on the fan after the full-time whistle.
Quoting the club’s tweet about the break in play, Samba posted on Twitter: “Is our lad ok btw?” He added three praying emojis as he expressed his concern.
