Your latest Nottingham Forest headlines from NottinghamshireLive on Monday, January 23.
Steve Cooper explains thought behind key Nottingham Forest selection decision
Head coach Steve Cooper says he had no qualms about throwing new signing Chris Wood straight into the first XI for his Nottingham Forest debut.
Barely 24 hours after he had put pen to paper for the Reds, the on-loan Newcastle United striker was in the starting line-up against Bournemouth. He played 75 minutes as the visitors came from behind to clinch a 1-1 draw.
Wood is cup-tied for Forest’s next two games, when they will face Manchester United in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, meaning he cannot play again until the home match against Leeds United on February 5. Cooper believes the experience the 31-year-old brings with him to the City Ground can be invaluable to his team’s battle for survival.
Nottingham Forest answering transfer critics as striker makes a point amid speculation
“I knew I was going to get a goal,” Sam Surridge told the TV cameras after Nottingham Forest’s draw at the Vitality Stadium. “I could feel it.”
For a while, it had threatened to be one of those days for the Reds. Bournemouth, again. But this team is made of sterner stuff now.
They have resilience and character. They have quality which can shine through even when as a collective they haven’t been at their best. They have a sense of unity. And they are a side which is continuing to make good progress.
Nottingham Forest could complete five transfers before January deadline
It has already been a busy January transfer window for Nottingham Forest, but there is still plenty more to come.
When asked this week how many more new arrivals are likely during the current window, head coach Steve Cooper said: “I don’t know. I can’t put an exact number on it. We are definitely trying to do some things - we are going to need some things.
“If some of it comes off, great. If not, then I’ll continue to work with the players who are in the building every day, try to get the best out of them and help them get the best out of themselves. We’ll keep preparing for games in the way we do, and hope that’s enough when the games come around.”
Paul Merson floored by Nottingham Forest transfer as Newcastle question asked
Paul Merson has admitted he is "flabbergasted" that Newcastle United allowed Chris Wood to join Nottingham Forest.
The Reds signed the striker on a season-long loan this week, bolstering a strike force hampered by an injury to Taiwo Awoniyi and a possible departure of Emmanuel Dennis.
Wood made his Forest debut in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday, while his parent club Newcastle drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace. When the striker came up in conversation on Sky Sports, Merson revealed his thoughts on the deal and the decision Newcastle have made in letting him go.
