Team news: Nottingham Forest midfielder doubtful ahead of Hull clash

Martin O’Neill has revealed that Matty Cash is a doubt for Nottingham Forest’s meeting with Hull City. The 21-year-old has been out of action for a month with an achilles injury but is nearing a return. Cash missed training on Thursday, but his manager is holding out hope that he’ll be available to face Hull. Forest could move within a point of the Championship playoffs if results go their way.

O’Neill said to the club’s official website: “(Cash) also has an Achilles problem although slightly different to Lewis (Grabban). He stayed out of training today [Thursday] but I am hoping that he can make it tomorrow. He is absolutely desperate to play, he really is and he is really keen. He trained a couple of days last week, felt it again and he wants to train. His level of natural fitness is pretty good so I have less worries about him really.”

Cash has made 27 Championship appearances this season, scoring six goals. The midfielder had only missed four league games up until mid-February, but he’s since been absent for Forest’s 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion (February 12), their 0-0 draw with Preston North End (February 16), their 1-0 win over Derby County (February 25) and their 2-0 defeat to Stoke City (March 2).

O’Neill named an unchanged midfield against Stoke, with Ryan Yates, Jack Colback and Ben Watson operating in the middle of the park while Ben Osborn and Joe Lolley were on the wing. Cash is unlikely to start even if he is fit as Forest have been in decent form of late.

The Reds currently sit ninth in the Championship table with 50 points from 35 games, coming off the back of two wins and draws from their last five.

Crippy Cooke’s previous article