Nottingham Forest hope their list of absentees will soon shorten as players continue to make progress in their recovery from injury.
The Reds’ numbers have been reduced in recent weeks as several members of the first-team have been on the treatment table.
Slowly but surely, though, boss Steve Cooper says some of them are getting closer to being back in contention for a place in the matchday squad.
Defender Loic Mbe Soh took another significant step towards his return, when he played the full 90 minutes as the Under-23s beat QPR 3-2 in the Premier League Cup in midweek.
Transfer latest
Boss Steve Cooper gave little away when asked about the possibility of club record signing Joao Carvalho leaving Nottingham Forest this month.
There has been plenty of talk in Greece this week about the midfielder closing in on a move to fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned club Olympiacos.
He has found himself down the pecking order at the City Ground, making just eight appearances this season, with his last run-out coming in the 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town last month.
Carvalho has been linked with the Greek giants in the past, but this time, he has just 18 months left on the five-year deal he signed when he joined from Benfica in 2018.
Derby clash
Head coach Steve Cooper is well aware just how much Saturday’s East Midlands derby means to Nottingham Forest supporters.
The Welshman has quickly developed a strong bond with Reds followers since he was appointed in September.
And while he always enjoys the sense of occasion which comes with matches at the City Ground, he is looking forward to the extra special atmosphere generated by a meeting with Derby County on the banks of the Trent.
Cooper is keen to make sure, however, that nobody in the Forest squad loses focus on the task in hand - claiming three points, to make it back-to-back league wins.
Laryea verdict
Nottingham Forest signed “one of the best right-backs” in the MLS, according to one of Richie Laryea’s former team-mates.
The Canada international is yet to make his debut in the Garibaldi, with boss Steve Cooper saying it could take time for him to get up to speed.
But when he does get a chance, Toronto FC’s Michael Bradley has given an insight into what the Reds can expect after Laryea put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal at the City Ground.
And he says making the move to England is the realisation of a dream for the defender, who can play on either flank and also as a winger.
