Nottingham Forest will be without six players for Saturday’s trip to face Preston North End – Michael Hefele (achilles), Michael Dawson (hamstring), Tobias Figueiredo (leg), Hilel Soudani (leg), Sam Byram (knee), Juan Rafael Fuentes (knee). Molla Wague and Matty Cash are doubtful, with Martin O’Neill revealing he could make a later decision on the pair.
Hefele is out for the season while Dawson and Figueiredo are both ruled out until March. Soudani has been out of action for nearly four months. His last appearance was against Bolton Wanderers in October. Fuentes has been out all season but is working hard in the gym towards a recovery.
Forest come into Saturday’s meeting off the back of two wins and a draw from their last four games. The Reds are currently ninth in the Championship and are five points adrift of the playoffs. Win could put them within touching distance of the top-six, but Forest’s away form is a problem. O’Neill’s men haven’t won on the road in their last seven games.
Preston have won four of their last five Championship outings too. They’ve lost only one game at home since September. Saturday’s clash could be a tricky affair for the Midlands outfit as a result, but O’Neill will be glad to have more players available for selection.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Opinion: Nottingham Forest midfielder should start against Preston, O’Neill is a fan
