Nottingham Forest confirmed on Wednesday that Tobias Figueiredo has returned to training ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Sheffield United. The Reds also revealed that the centre-back is expected to feature before the season comes to a close. He’s likely to miss out over the weekend, however.
Figueiredo has made 14 appearances in all competitions since turning his loan move permanent from Sporting CP last summer. The 25-year-old has racked up 1009 minutes of Championship football this season, making 74 clearances, winning 43 aerial duels (44%), has blocked eight shots, averaging 40 passes-per-game with 75% accuracy and averaging a tackle (13) or interception (15) every 36 minutes.
His last outing for Forest was against Queens Park Rangers on December 22 and the club have missed him ever since. Figueiredo has only been on the losing team just once in the Championship this season and has helped the Reds pick up six clean sheets.
Yohan Benalouane, Alexander Milosevic and Molla Wague were signed in January as a result of Forest’s injury crisis in defence, but results have spiralled during the second-half of the campaign – six league wins in 2019. Figueiredo’s return is good news, but it’s come too late to help Forest in their push for the playoffs.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Picture: Nottingham Forest man returns to training, boost for O’Neill ahead of Sheff Utd clash
