Steve Cooper may be without as many as eight Nottingham Forest players for the visit of Luton Town to the City Ground with Gonzalo Montiel joining their growing injury list.
The Reds are currently ravished by injury but Cooper will hope to welcome some back as the season resumes. Nottingham Forest went into the international break 13th in the table after two wins in eight games. Three draws also put Forest five points clear of the relegation zone.
Cooper will now hope to stretch their margin by beating Luton Town as the newly-promoted Hatters visit on Saturday. The Kenilworth Road outfit have won just one of their eight games and drawn once. Yet they remain outside of the drop zone via goal difference over Burnley.
Nottingham Forest injury list ahead of facing Luton Town
Nottingham Forest have not beaten Luton Town since taking a 3-1 win in the Championship in January 2020. The Hatters won two of their following four meetings in the second tier, as well. Saturday is the two team’s first top-flight meeting since Luton Town won in April 1992.
Cooper will also hope he has enough players return from injury to secure Nottingham Forest their first top-flight win over Luton Town since back in April 1990. So, with that in mind, here is the latest news about the Reds’ current injury situation facing Cooper at the City Ground…
Nuno Tavares injury latest
Cooper expects Nottingham Forest to welcome Nuno Tavares back from his injury following the international break. The on-loan Arsenal ace missed the Reds’ past two Premier League fixtures after suffering a groin injury. He sustained the issue during his first start for Cooper.
Tavares initially tried to play on against Manchester City after suffering the blow in his third game for Nottingham Forest. But the 23-year-old’s efforts were in vain as he limped off after 39 minutes. The visit of Luton Town to the City Ground may offer the defender his next start.
Cooper said, via the Nottingham Forest club website, earlier in October: “I don’t think we’ll see Nuno until after the international break.”
Expected return: Luton Town (October 21)
Serge Aurier injury latest
Nottingham Forest entered the October international break fearful of the groin injury Serge Aurier suffered against Crystal Palace. Cooper remains in flux over the full-back’s availability, too. TalkSPORT claims the 30-year-old’s involvement against Luton Town is still in doubt.
Aurier appeared to sustain the injury during the first half against the Eagles but managed to play on until half-time. Ivory Coast then seemed to ease Nottingham Forest’s fears by taking the defender on international duty. But he did not feature against Morocco or South Africa.
Expected return: Luton Town (October 21)
Gonzalo Montiel injury latest
The international break has dealt Nottingham Forest another injury blow as Gonzalo Montiel appeared to suffer an issue representing Argentina. La Pagina Millonaria reports that the 26-year-old started to call for a substitution after only 30 minutes against Peru before going off.
Montiel was relishing only his second outing for Argentina since the 2022 World Cup final in the 2026 World Cup qualifier. Now, the right-back is a doubt for Nottingham Forest’s return to action against Luton Town. He was in considerable pain whilst the 24-cap star limped off.
Expected return: Luton Town (October 21)
Wayne Hennessey injury latest
Cooper is still yet to name Wayne Hennessey in a matchday squad following the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper’s knee injury. But the Wales international is, finally, in a position to return. Robert Page gave the 36-year-old his first minutes of the term as Cymru beat Gibraltar 4-0.
Hennessey started in the friendly at the Racecourse Ground on October 11 and also enjoyed 63 minutes. He had not featured since starting in Forest’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on the final day of last season. But Cooper welcomed Hennessey back to training in September.
Expected return: Luton Town (October 21)
Taiwo Awoniyi injury latest
Nottingham Forest face being without Taiwo Awoniyi until early November after he suffered a groin injury against Brentford. The striker sustained a similar injury last season that kept the 26-year-old out for 12 games. But his current injury is on the opposite leg as to last season.
His latest injury is also likely to keep Awoniyi out of action for far fewer fixtures. The Nigeria international has already returned to training after featuring in Cooper’s sessions during the international break. And Cooper expects Awoniyi will come back strong like he did last term.
“Of course it is a blow,” Cooper emphasised, via quotes by Nottinghamshire Live. “He’s been our man up front. He’s out for a month. He did it in the game against Brentford. He’s been injured before and came back really strong, so he knows he can do it. He’ll commit to that.”
Expected return: Aston Villa (November 5)
Danilo injury latest
Nottingham Forest have been without Danilo since the start of September after he suffered a hamstring injury against Chelsea. Cooper has also clarified that the 22-year-old remains a while away from returning. But the midfielder has worked on their grass pitches in training.
“Danilo is a bit more long-term,” Cooper said, via the Nottingham Forest club website, at the start of October. “It’s still going to be a little while until he’s back with the group. He’s out on the grass but very much in the middle of his rehab.”
Expected return: Unclear
Ola Aina injury latest
Nottingham Forest fans named Ola Aina as their Player of the Month this September. So, for the 26-year-old to sustain a muscle injury came as a huge blow for Cooper. Aina sustained it at the start of October and is yet to return. The issue also kept Aina from playing for Nigeria.
Aina made a flying start to his City Ground career after joining as a free agent upon leaving Torino. He started in five of their opening six Premier League games and featured on either wing. But Cooper is still waiting for fresh news from Nottingham Forest that Aina can return.
Expected return: Unclear
Felipe injury latest
Cooper is yet to play Felipe in a Premier League game so far this term whilst the Nottingham Forest star recovers from a knee injury. The issue has plagued the 34-year-old for some time and also thwarted his pre-season. But he did feature during an EFL Trophy tie in September.
Felipe captained Nottingham Forest’s Under-21s against Harrogate Town and featured for 63 minutes. But the Brazilian returned to their treatment room. Cooper also declared last month that Nottingham Forest are still having to manage Felipe’s return from the knee injury daily.
“Felipe is an ongoing situation with his knee,” Cooper noted in a press conference. “So, it’s something that we’re trying to manage carefully. We’re trying to support him in the best way possible to give him the best chance possible of being back involved with the team.”
Expected return: Unclear
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