Guess who’s back?
Well, possibly back, we’re still not 100% sure if he’s in the starting line-up or just on the bench.
After his impressive return last year, both in terms of goals and assists, expectations were high for Forest’s Portuguese playmaker Joao Carvalho this season, however he suffered an injury in their victory over Alfreton Town in pre-season and hasn’t been seen since.
Good news though, because Sabri Lamouchi revealed in his press conference yesterday that he ‘will probably’ be in the matchday squad for tonight’s Carabao Cup game.
So when Lamouchi broke the news that we could be about to see Carvalho make his return in a Forest shirt, you expect that Forest fans would be delighted at the prospect of seeing him strutting his stuff, wouldn’t you?
Well, you’d be on the right lines, but not entirely correct.
If it were any other game, then perhaps there would be cause for celebration. However, given that this is Derby County, a huge rivalry game, it seems as though a number of fans are a little bit cautious about bringing him back tonight. Looks as if they’d rather save him for this weekend’s game against Preston North End, and if I’m being honest, I can’t really blame them. You don’t want to rush someone back from injury and risk losing them for another couple of weeks, or even months.
Shouldn't be playing in this one ..
— clint (@FlewittClint) August 26, 2019
If ever there was a game for a while player coming back from injury to miss it’s this one. The atmosphere will be heated and tackles will be flying in everywhere. As much as I want him back, he’s better off playing against Preston on Saturday.
— Davo M (@davo261088) August 26, 2019
I wouldn't put it past the damned sheep to target him and take him out if he sets foot on the pitch ????
— Kate_short_for_Bob (@Klg1711) August 26, 2019
The amount of injuries we get in this fixture generally is a concern though
— Peter O'Hanraha-Hanrahan (@PeterOHanrahaH) August 26, 2019
Whilst for others, it’s a case of no time like the present.
I’ve seen a few say Derby will proper get into him. Imo it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, João will be set upon anyway because they can’t handle him. No game is ideal then in that sense.
For me, this is the best time to bring him back.
— Claire (@LilMissRedDog) August 26, 2019
So glad carvalho is back,we have missed him behind grabban he’s got so many things different about him on the pitch that no other championship player has got,that’s why he change games for us with his movement his vision which is going to be vital for us #nffc ????⚪️❤️
— Kieran (@KieranNffc29) August 26, 2019
Good game to reintroduce him tails ????#nffc
— Borderlandred (@borderlandred) August 26, 2019
He will start ????????⚽️
— Simon Tebbutt (@TebbsTebbutt) August 26, 2019
