Chris Hughton has provided updates on three injured Nottingham Forest midfielders ahead of this weekend’s game with Barnsley.
Jack Colback has been out since November and he returned to training yesterday.
He was injured in a 1-0 defeat to Swansea at the City Ground and hasn’t featured since.
It will take him a while to get up to speed but he is now back with the squad.
Harry Arter has sat out the last few weeks and he will join back up with the team on Monday.
The ex-Bournemouth player has struggled for game time but ironically he’d be in the team if it wasn’t for injury right now.
Ryan Yates is the latest casualty and Hughton made an interesting comment about the academy graduate.
Although he is making rapid progress, Hughton joked that Yates would ‘play now’ if Forest let him.
The 23-year-old has showcased a win at all costs mentality this season and his tenacity will be a big loss.
It was also added that Colback, although back in training is unlikely be considered for selection this week.
It doesn’t look as though the trio will be too far away though and that is a massive positive for Forest.
Fitness concerns easing can only help the Reds.
There are 21 games left for Forest to play this season and Hughton knows his team badly need victories.
The experience of Colback and Arter, with the youthful exuberance of Yates could be big assets between now and the end of the season.
Colback returning could be a really interesting one.
He was just starting to get back into his groove following a pretty ordinary start to his third spell at the club.
His, and Yates’ returns, could be key to Fores retaining their Championship status.
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