FOREST STARS TO BE SOLD IF PREM BID FAILS

NOTTINGHAM FOREST could be forced to sell star duo Matty Cash and Joe Worrall if the Reds miss out on promotion.

Forest visit Boro seeking to consolidate a top-six spot in a bid to return to the Premier League for the first time since 1999.

They recently tied down full-back Cash, 22, (above left) and centre-back Worrall, 23, (above right) on new deals until 2023 and 2024 respectively.

But West Ham bid for

Cash in January and top-flight rivals Sheffield United and Southampton are keen on Worrall.

And Mirror Sport understands Forest handed out the deals to help protect the value of their assets for a potential sale if Sabri Lamouchi’s men miss out on promotion.

They could demand £15m-£20million each for their stars after handing them improved terms.

Forest had looked set to mount a push for automatic promotion after beating Leeds at home last month.

But they have won just once in four games since, including a home defeat to struggling Charlton.

Forest midfielder Samba

Sow is hoping to return for the trip to the Riverside after missing the 1-0 win at Cardiff due to a knee injury.

Mali international Sow, 30, said: “Cardiff was a good result – an away game, a clean sheet and three points. We have to keep going like that and fight until the end.

“Boro will be another difficult game and we just have to have the same performance, nothing less, to get the three points.

“These kind of games we have struggled sometimes and lost points, that is why every game is important.

“But we just need to focus on our game and to try our best to get the maximum points.”