Head coach Steve Cooper admits it is looking unlikely Nottingham Forest will succeed in their bid to reinstate Steve Cook into their 25-man Premier League squad.
The 31-year-old didn’t make the cut when the Reds’ revised list was submitted after the January transfer window closed. However, an injury crisis at the back left the club wanting to bring him back in, to replace the sidelined Willy Boly.
Forest’s initial request was turned down by the governing body. An appeal was then submitted and although a response has not yet been received, Cooper is braced for bad news.
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“It is still something that is a little bit inconclusive, but obviously it doesn't look great,” said the Welshman ahead of Sunday’s clash with Everton. “It’s looking like now that it won’t happen, truth be told.
“I don’t know the ins and outs and the exact wording from the Premier League. Certainly, he is outside of the 25-man squad at the moment. It's slightly frustrating, but that’s what it is.”
Cook is still training with the first-team squad, but Joe Worrall and Felipe remain the only fit centre-backs available to Cooper for the clash with the Toffees. Moussa Niakhate is back in training after being out of action since August with a hamstring problem, but he is not yet in contention to return.
Boly is expected to be absent for at least three months, while Scott McKenna is facing a six-week lay-off, with both having gone down with hamstring injuries at the same time during the defeat to Fulham. Full-back Serge Aurier and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate are capable of playing at centre-back but are also injured, as is Giulian Biancone, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in November.
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