The extent of Nottingham Forest’s summer shopping spree will have little bearing on what the club look to do in the January transfer window.
Brazilian Gustavo Scarpa has already been brought in on a free transfer, although he will not officially become a Reds player until January 1, when his contract with Palmeiras expires. And further new arrivals will be sanctioned, not least because an expanding injury list is taking its toll.
Eyebrows were raised among pundits when Forest made a British-record 22 signings as they prepared for life in the Premier League, with a general lack of appreciation of the necessity behind such a substantial overhaul. Head coach Steve Cooper accepts the club will be in the spotlight again whenever they strengthen, but says decisions will be made on how the squad looks in the here and now.
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Injury latest
Injuries are stacking up for Nottingham Forest as they head into the new year and a crucial period of the season.
The Reds were already without long-term absentees Moussa Niakhate (hamstring), Omar Richards (hairline fracture of the leg), Giulian Biancone (ACL) and Cheikhou Kouyate (hamstring) as the Premier League campaign resumed following the World Cup break. And they are now waiting to find out how long club record signing Morgan Gibbs-White will be sidelined for, while Jesse Lingard had to be substituted in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United after receiving treatment on the pitch.
Gibbs-White has not featured since being forced off in Forest’s friendly defeat to Valencia, just before the campaign restarted. Boss Steve Cooper said prior to kick-off at Old Trafford that the attacker would be out “for a little while” with a muscle problem.
Meanwhile, teammate Lingard had worn heavy strapping around one of his thighs against his former club. He was brought off early in the second half after going down following an attempt to sprint for a ball.
Chelsea blow
Chelsea have confirmed ahead of their New Year's Day match against Nottingham Forest that defender Reece James is set to be ruled out for up to a month after suffering a knee injury against Bournemouth.
James, 23, was making a first competitive appearance since mid-October against the Cherries but could not continue after feeling his knee just minutes into the second half of the match. After initially injuring the same right knee playing against AC Milan during the Champions League group stages, the full-back was sidelined for nine Chelsea matches and also missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate's squad at the World Cup as a result.
The 15-cap England international has only managed to make 14 appearances for club and country this season. In a tweet preempting the official announcement, James described 2022 as 'the toughest year to date'.
According to that timescale provided by the club, James may be sidelined for up to six matches, including the one next up against Forest. This latest setback only adds to the injury problems at Chelsea.
Lingard's message
Nottingham Forest midfielder Jesse Lingard has sent a message to Manchester United fans following his return to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving the club in the summer.
The 30-year-old spent a total of around 22 years with Manchester United, coming up through the clubs youth ranks to establish himself as a first team player. He went onto play a total of 232 times for the first team.
Lingard however found himself falling down the pecking order in recent years. He was hoping for increased game time after impressing on a six month loan deal with West Ham back in 2021 but that never happened.
The midfielder left Man United at the end of his contract in the summer transfer window, opting to join Forest on a free transfer, despite interest from other clubs, including West Ham. After a tough start to the season, Lingard got on the scoresheet for the second time in the Carabao Cup victory over Championship side Blackburn.
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