Nottingham Forest have been handed a boost ahead of Sunday’s trip to face league leaders Arsenal.
Midfielder Lewis O’Brien has been pictured back in training with the Reds, having missed the last three games. The summer signing has been absent due to illness, which head coach Steve Cooper has said “really knocked him back”.
O’Brien was watching on at the City Ground at the weekend as his teammates saw off Liverpool, with Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal clinching a much-needed 1-0 win. And the summer signing seems to have stepped up his recovery by joining in with Cooper’s side as they prepare for the clash at the Emirates Stadium, being captured in pictures posted on the club’s official social media accounts.
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“Lewis is still poorly,” the Forest manager had said prior to taking on Jurgen Klopp’s team. “We are helping as much as we can with his recovery and really trying to get to the bottom of it. He’s taken a bit of a hit with it.”
O’Brien last featured as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa. He was absent for the 1-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers and the goalless stalemate away to Brighton and Hove Albion, as well as the victory over Liverpool.
Cooper already has a selection dilemma when it comes to his midfield, regardless of whether O’Brien is fit enough to start in the capital. Ryan Yates, Remo Freuler and Cheikhou Kouyate all impressed on Saturday and will hope to keep their places in the starting XI.
However, Orel Mangala will be waiting in the wings to get back into the team. He made his first start since returning from a hamstring injury at Brighton, then came off the bench last time out.
Fellow midfielder Jack Colback has recently been struggling with a back problem. Forest are also still without Harry Toffolo (hamstring), Moussa Niakhate (hamstring) and Omar Richards (hairline fracture of the leg).
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