Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has revealed that key player Brennan Johnson is ‘unlikely’ to feature in Friday night’s clash with Newcastle United.
The Welsh international is their top scorer on nine and star man in attack, scoring a brace in their last game at the City Ground; a 2-2 draw with relegation rivals Everton.
However, both Johnson (groin) and former Mag Chris Wood were forced off with injuries in a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham last weekend and look set to miss out on Friday night.
Cooper claims the Welshman has a ‘small chance’ of playing some part, but it’s ‘unlikely’ he features, leaving Forest without a host of first-team players, with Wily Boly, Scott McKenna, Taiwo Awoniyi, Dean Henderson, Giulian Biancone, Wayne Hennessey and Omar Richards also out.
Cheikhou Kouyate, Moussa Niakhaté and Ryan Yates are back in training, but it sounds like all three won’t be ready to start until after the international break:
“He (Johnson) had his scan. It’s unlikely that he will be involved at the weekend but he has a small chance.
“We’re not completely ruling him out, but when you walk off with a muscle injury it can take a bit longer than a week to recover.
“Moussa is back in training, Yatesy has been coming on and has been giving us as much as he has been permitted to. They’re getting stronger as weeks go by, but whether they’re ready for starts, I’m not too sure.
“We’re hopeful of getting players back during the international break because that will make us stronger.”
As for Newcastle, Joelinton completes a two-match ban and will miss out alongside Anthony Gordon (ankle), while Ryan Fraser is still training with our U21s and Emil Krafth working his way back from an ACL injury.
