Steve Cooper has suggested he’s not overly concerned about injuries to Wayne Hennessey, Morgan Gibbs-White and Serge Aurier. The head coach was quizzed on the trio who were all absent as the Reds thrashed Blackburn 4-1 in the Carabao Cup.
Forest played a strong team at Ewood Park in the last 16 of the League Cup. They hadn’t played a competitive fixture since early November, with the Premier League clubs taking a break for the World Cup in Qatar.
Brennan Johnson scored twice, with Jesse Lingard and Taiwo Awoniyi also notching for the Reds during a comprehensive victory against Championship opposition.
The admission of the trio was on everyone’s mind though. Gibbs-White is a star man, whilst Hennessey will be badly missed if he can’t take to the pitch at Old Trafford, with Dean Henderson ineligible.
Aurier has also been brilliant since signing on a free transfer. Cooper, however, has put supporters at east a little bit over the trio.
He told Nottinghamshire Live: “We are hopeful that they will all be available for United.
“It’s been a mixture of kicks and loading through this period and a lot of travelling and training on different surfaces.
“There’s a bit of management going on as well but there’s nothing we are too concerned about. Just for this one, at this moment, they weren’t available.”
Cooper not concerned over injured trio
The head coach might not be too concerned, but it’s fair to presume that the fan base can be forgiven for getting a little bit anxious.
Aurier and Gibbs-White were arguably Forest’s two shining lights before the World Cup and the Reds need them back as soon as possible.
Hennessey could be the most crucial concern ahead of Manchester United. Henderson can’t play and it would be unfair to rely on Jordan Smith after so long out of the first-team reckoning.
Now, although Cooper has appeared to squash any fears, that won’t stop fans being anxious.
Forest have to improve their away form and the trip to Old Trafford already looks thankless, without these three players being injured.
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