With Michael Hefele adding to the defensive headache being endured by Nottingham Forest, will Aitor Karanka look to add in the January window?
The Reds have endured a wretched run of luck when it comes to members of their back line over recent weeks – particularly at centre-half.
Daniel Fox has spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with Michael Dawson currently doing likewise.
Tobias Figueiredo has taken in one outing since seeing red at Aston Villa, with an untimely ban and niggling knocks keeping him out of Karanka’s plans.
Forest have been forced to get creative as a result.
The Ben Osborn at left-back experiment did not last long, with Jack Robinson now shifted back into his more regular role.
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Tactical tweak
Saidy Janko has also filled the starting berth mentioned above, while Claudio Yacob was asked to provide centre-half cover against Leeds.
He was dropped from a midfield role into the defensive unit just five minutes into an eventful meeting with the Whites.
Hefele’s limp from the field forced the need for a tactical tweak, and may now force Karanka’s hand in the transfer market.
The Spaniard said in the Nottingham Post of his stricken German: “He has a problem with his Achilles, I do not know how serious it is.
“But he has had problems with this in the past as well. Let’s see how he is.
“It could be bad news for us at Chelsea. Let’s see what is happening with Tobias, otherwise we will need to invent a new solution.”
Forest do not have too many ‘solutions’ left available to them and recruiting again may be the best option at this stage.
Impossible task
When everybody is fit there is plenty of depth at the back, but keeping the treatment table clear is proving to be an impossible task.
There has been talk of the Reds asking to have Joe Worrall freed from a loan spell at Rangers, but that appears doubtful.
Karanka has said of those rumours: “I do not know what the situation is with Joe. He is playing and they won; they won the derby.”
If Forest are not planning on putting that question to Steven Gerrard, then who should be expecting a call?
Do the Reds turn to the academy for cover? Should a loan agreement be sought? Would a permanent addition for the present and future make the most sense?
As has been the case all too often of late, there are more questions than answers when it comes to Forest’s rearguard.