Lewis Grabban missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town due to an achilles injury, but the Nottingham Forest striker is expected back in time to face Swansea City on March 30. He’s returned to light training and should be in full training before next week.
Grabban has been out of action since mid-February, missing the Reds’ last five games, and his side’s playoff bid has unravelled in his absence. Martin O’Neill’s men have dropped points in three of their last four games and are now outsiders to finish in the top-six.
The Reds are currently 11th in the Championship with 54 points from 38 games this season. Forest are three points adrift of the playoffs but can’t find any form to make up the deficit. Two wins from their last seven games tells its own story.
Grabban has contributed 35% of Forest’s league goals. The 31-year-old has scored and created 18 in 31 games, but his form fell apart in 2019. Grabban has only bagged one goal in 2019, but Daryl Murphy, Leo Bonatini and Karim Ansarifard have failed to adequately replace him.
O’Neill can’t afford to fall short against Swansea. A win could get Forest’s playoffs bid back on track, while defeat could see them with a mountain to climb and needing a miracle.
