Nottingham Forest head to Luton Town on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways after consecutive league defeats against Wigan and Hull,
The Reds will want to gain some momentum going into the massive local derby with Derby County next weekend.
It looks as though Forest will head to Kenilworth Road with the same squad of players who were beaten by Hull. Boss Sabri Lamouchi has told Nottinghamshire Live that Samba Sow, Michael Dawson, Alfa Semedo and Carl Jenkinson are all still missing.
He has confirmed that ex-Arsenal man Jenkinson is edging closer to a return, however, and that would be a boost for Forest.
Matty Cash has performed admirably at right-back so far this season. His form has been so impressive that Forest supporters have almost forgotten that the team doesn’t have a natural player in that position.
Although some supporters have suggested that Cash has found a new home as part of the back four, he does have quality further forward that Lamouchi could utilise.
Jenkinson’s £2 million (Daily Mail) arrival at the club appeared to give the Reds a boost in the absence of Tendayi Darikwa. Just four games into his Forest career he was struck with an ankle injury and hasn’t played since August.
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The Reds have been lacking something in the final third of late. It was telling against Hull that Forest’s most likely player to create something of nothing was Cash – from right-back!
Different option
His ability to run at defenders and put them instantly on the back foot could be a useful asset for the Reds to call upon in the coming months.
Although Sammy Ameobi and Albert Adomah boast the trickery they perhaps don’t have the energy to get up and down the pitch quite like Cash does.
His spell at right-back will certainly bode well for the defensive side of his game but there is still an element of his game that suggests he is wasted as a permanent fixture in defence.
Jenkinson can still be a shrewd addition and he is a master of his trade in his natural position. It would certainly be a strange one to keep playing Cash in an unnatural position once a regular defender is fit.
Getting injured players back on the pitch can benefit Forest in more ways than one.
Cash clearly misses bombarding forward and creating chances for the attacking players, whilst Forest have certainly missed his energy in the final third in recent weeks.
Jenkinson’s return will be a timely boost for Lamouchi. The chance to potentially see Cash marauding down the right flank would make his return an exciting one for the club’s supporters too.
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