Alfa Semedo is ready to hit the ground running again at Nottingham Forest, and his return to full fitness could prove to be very timely indeed.
The on-loan midfielder has not been seen since September 21.
He sat out the end of a sequence of games which landed Sabri Lamouchi a Manger of the Month award.
A niggling knock also prevented him from figuring in meetings with Blackburn and Brentford.
His last appearance came a week after the first international break.
We are now longing for the end of a second.
Semedo has posted encouraging messages regarding his physical condition.
“Coming back stronger” has been his bold declaration to Forest followers.
Having talked the talk, the opportunity to walk the walk is fast approaching.
After what feels like an eternity, the Reds will be back in action on Sunday away at Wigan.
Dominant
Image Credit: Nottingham Forest
That trip will likely be taken in without the services of Samba Sow.
One dominant figure in the middle of the park has been forced onto the treatment table.
Another has stepped off it.
Semedo is not the same player as Sow, but they are cut from similar cloth.
Both are capable of putting a foot in and driving forward through the engine room.
The so-called ‘Guinean Pogba’ has a bit more of a technical touch than a Malian colleague.
Which could come in very useful when hitting a run of games which look favourable on paper for Forest.
To build from this point, the Reds will want to offer more of an attacking threat in upcoming matches.
Semedo can help to deliver that.
Coup
He burst out of the blocks at the start of the season, with early showings making him look like quite the coup.
There was the odd wobble after a bright start and then an unfortunate injury.
Semedo, though, should now be straining at the leash.
He impressed many during a testing trip to Leeds and recorded a match-winning goal at Swansea.
Minutes were also seen at Charlton and Fulham as an unbeaten run away from home was pieced together by the Reds.
Stepping back in at Wigan could prove to be rather fitting.
With home comforts then to be enjoyed in three of Forest’s next four games, where Lamouchi’s men will be expected to get onto the front foot.
Sow will come back into contention at some stage, while there are various other options to consider – from injury victim Ryan Yates to the frozen out Claudio Yacob.
The Reds need to find a winning formula.
Semedo could have an important part to play in that, with the 22-year-old having displayed enough potential to suggest that consistency can be added to the power and poise seen to this point.