Nottingham Forest have confirmed that Joao Carvalho will miss Saturday’s meeting with Sheffield United due to concussion regulations. The midfielder will return after the weekend, however. Carvalho suffered the head injury against Blackburn Rovers last Saturday but will be available against Middlesbrough on Monday, April 22.
The 22-year-old has made 37 appearances in all competitions for Forest this season, scoring and creating 10 goals. In the Championship, Carvalho averages 29 passes-per-game with 78% accuracy, has created 38 chances, made 28 tackles, 42 successful dribbles (40%) and has whipped in 79 crosses with 19% accuracy.
His form has fallen off a cliff in the last five months, however, with Carvalho failing to make an assist since November 24 against Hull City and scoring only one goal since his effort against Aston Villa on November 28. He’s been left on the bench seven times in the last four months and wasn’t likely to start against Sheffield United regardless.
The creative midfielder has struggled for playing time as a result of his struggles, racking up a meagre 355 minutes of Championship football since the turn of the year. His future is uncertain at the City Ground after an inauspicious debut season, but it may be hard for Forest to get their £13m back.
