Sabri Lamouchi says Michael Dawson “will be back” after the international break. The 35-year-old has been ruled out of Saturday’s meeting with Brentford but is expected to return in time for Nottingham Forest’s trip to Wigan Athletic on October 20.
Lamouchi told Nottinghamshire Live: “He will be with us for Wigan, not before. I just want to congratulate him because he has become a dad for the second time, so after the bad news comes the good news. But he will be back.
“Michael is a very good professional and a very good example for everyone. I’m not worried about Michael because he’s very professional, and I’m not worried about playing without him because they are all ready to play, and they all deserve to play.”
Dawson has been sidelined with a calf injury, picking up the knock against Stoke City (September 27) which resulted in him being replaced by Chema Rodriguez after half an hour. Lamouchi opted for Tobias Figuiredo alongside Joe Worrall against Blackburn Rovers (October 1), however, so it remains to be seen who will start on the weekend.
Forest will fancy their chances regardless of personnel. The Reds are currently fourth in the Championship with 19 points from 10 games, having won three of their last four games. Lamouchi’s side are unbeaten in nine league games and have the fifth-best defensive record (9) for their troubles.
They face a Brentford side sitting 15th in the table with 12 points and one win in four. The Bees have lost three of their last four away games too. Dawson has been a rock alongside Worrall and will be missed on Saturday, but Forest still have Chema, Figueiredo, Jack Robinson and Alexander Milosevic at their disposal.
