Pair back in the mix for Tigers clash
DEFENDER Tobias Figueiredo and winger Joe Lolley were back in training for Nottingham Forest this week and are available for today’s clash with Hull City.
The pair missed last weekend’s 4-1 thumping over Swansea City due to illness, but have linked up with their team-mates again.
Steve Cooper’s side are aiming to make it three wins on the spin at the City Ground.
“They are back in training. It was what we hoped, just a weekend over this time of year where you can pick up things, but you can quickly get over it and be back,” Cooper said of Lolley and Figueiredo.
Victory at the Liberty Stadium also saw a return for Arsenal loanee Jordi Osei-tutu.
It was the full-back’s first outing since August, after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a recurrence of the hamstring injury which had limited him to a handful of appearances last term.
“He was buzzing,” said Cooper. “It’s one thing about him getting through from an injury point of view, but it was also the joy on his face. He’d had so long out.
“It was an away game with a positive result, he’d had that feeling of putting the kit on again and playing with his team-mates.
“It was just nice to see how happy he was after the game.
“Of course we wanted to get him through the game from a medical and well-being point of view, but just the joy of him playing was lovely to see.
“He came through it fine. He was absolutely buzzing.”
Forest are still without defenders Loic Mbe Soh (thigh), Max Lowe (groin) and Rodrigo Ely (muscle), but the trio are all making good progress ahead of the busy festive period.
“Rodrigo is back in training. He’s still on a bit of a condition programme, so he won’t be available for games yet because he’s had a spell out,” said Cooper.
“But he’s back in with the team, training on a little bit of a reduced programme. We’re trying to get him up to full speed.
“Loic is due back with us next week and Max is getting closer as well. I’ve even seen him on the grass a little bit this week, so that means he can’t be too far away from joining the full squad.
“You never want to see any players injured, for their sakes as much as anything else.
“But with us going into a busy period, you want as many players available as possible.
“We’ve seen recently, when we had that busy week, what can happen with a couple of red cards and injuries - people stepped in and did a good job.
“The more players you have available to do that is a good thing.”
Hull boss Grant Mccann has no fresh injuries ahead of their trip to the City Ground.
Lewie Coyle is not expected back until well into the new year, while Alfie Jones is closer to a return following a hamstring problem.
Josh Emmanuel (illness) is out but Tom Eaves is fit after returning from an ankle problem last week.
Harvey Cartwright, Brandon Fleming, Matt Smith, George Moncur, Andy Cannon, Randell Williams and Tyler Smith all played for the Under-23s against Peterborough this week.