Nottingham Forest Under-23s were in action last night against Newcastle and perhaps Andy Reid has made a decision on Loic Mbe Soh that provides a selection hint for tonight’s first-team game against Barnsley.
The Reds will hope to avoid a serious case of After the Lord Mayor’s Show. The Reds beat Derby at the weekend, with Steve Cooper’s team running out 2-1 winners against the relegation-threatened Rams.
Steve Cooper might look to make a change this evening. Ryan Yates started the game on Saturday at centre-back, but after a slow start, he slotted back into the midfield engine room.
It does seem unlikely that Cooper will put the academy graduate back at centre-back tonight. Tobias Figueiredo is available but Reid’s team selection last night perhaps suggests a start for another player.
Loic Mbe Soh is battling back to full fitness. He hasn’t made an appearance for the first team since Chris Hughton’s last game in September.
Mbe Soh made an eye-catching start to the 2021/22 campaign. He was brilliant for 45 minutes against Coventry before injury cruelly struck on the stroke of half-time.
Cooper has treated Mbe Soh with caution. He has made a couple of appearances for the under-23s in recent weeks, however, but wasn’t on show last night as Reid’s men won 1-0.
Point to prove: Mbe Soh can still star for Forest
An injury to Joe Worrall opens the door for Mbe Soh. If Cooper wants to go with his back three, then the French youngster is tailor-made for the role on the right-hand side.
Steve Cook and Scott McKenna will both almost certainly start. The place next to those two, however, is firmly up for grabs.
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Mbe Soh has only made 10 appearances for Forest since arriving in the summer of 2020. Last season was also a frustrating one on the injury front and he now has a point to prove.
At 20, time is on his side. He will hope to grasp the next chance that comes his way and that could be as soon as tonight when Barnsley arrive on Trentside.