Nottingham Forest will assess Morgan Gibbs-White, Jota Silva and Elliot Anderson tomorrow (Friday), before deciding whether they are fit to face West Ham United at the City Ground on Saturday.
Anderson was able to play against Leicester City, despite having his foot trodden on during the previous game against Crystal Palace, but suffered some pain at the King Power Stadium.
The £15million summer signing from Newcastle United has only been doing recovery work on the training ground this week.
“Elliot, in the game against Palace, somebody stood on his foot and it was very painful. He was able to play against Leicester, but he has been having treatment on it,” said Nuno Espirito Santo in his pre-match press conference.
“It is painful for him, but he is putting everything he has into being available to play at the weekend. We will assess him tomorrow. There are a few players we need to be careful over, we need to make the right decisions. But this is what we are here for.”
Anderson has flourished in the last two games, producing positive performances in the wins over Palace and Leicester City, while taking on the No 10 role in place of Gibbs-White.
Nuno says Gibbs-White is making positive progress in his recovery from an ankle injury sustained in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea at the start of October.
“It was a tough one for Morgan; a painful one. He is better now. He is going to plan,” said Nuno. “The squad has the solutions we have to find. But it is not the same without him, because he brings us something different.
“It is always the same — after a period of the season with some hard matches, players get knocks and injuries, players coming back. We have to assess them tomorrow.
“Morgan is one of the players inside that group that we have to assess and see how he is. Chris (Wood) also, and Elliot and Jota. They have knocks.”
In form striker Wood, who has scored seven goals in nine appearances this season, is expected to be fit to face West Ham.
Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare are also making progress in their return from a broken leg and a serious hamstring injury respectively. Nuno said that the duo are still ‘on track’ and Forest hope that could mean a return to training by Christmas time.
GO DEEPER
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(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
