Steve Cooper has delivered an injury update on three Nottingham Forest players following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Everton. Cheikhou Kouyate, Moussa Niakhate and Taiwo Awoniyi are the trio of starts that the head coach has provided reports on.
Forest were worthy of their point on Sunday. After a drab first half against the Toffees, the Reds came out of the blocks in the second and in the end, they might feel unlucky they didn’t win.
Forest are quite desperate to get some players back. Chris Wood and Emmanuel Dennis are the only fit centre-forwards, whilst Joe Worrall and Felipe are the only central defensive options.
Niakhate is perhaps the player that the Reds could do with back as a matter of urgency. Although Worrall and Felipe have done well, an injury to either player would leave the Reds in a real pickle.
Awoniyi has also been a huge miss. He had just started to accustom to life in the Premier League and he was playing really well in the left-sided forward role that Cooper looks to utilise.
Kouyate hasn’t played since the World Cup. He was injured in Senegal’s first game at the tournament against Holland and he’s been waiting for his hamstring problem to settle ever since.
Now, Cooper has delivered an update on the trio of Forest stars. It’s fair to say that it’s a positive situation that the Reds find themselves in and all three could be back soon.
The head coach told the media: “Cheikhou (Kouyate) is not far away. Taiwo (Awoniyi) is not far away. Moussa is not far away. They are three really big players for us. We’ll just focus on the next game, see who’s available and commit to the plan.”
Cooper delivers update on injured trio
It will be such a huge boost to have the three injured players back in contention. The Reds are facing a really crucial period and perhaps those three could be the difference.
Awoniyi has scored a number of goals this season. His return would ease the burden on the likes of Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White as the Reds aim to stay up.
Niakhate at the back would be a huge return, whilst Kouyate will provide some vital experience in the middle of the park for the Reds.