Back to get his chance in Reds trip to Potters
TEENAGER Fin Back is in line to make his full Championship debut for Nottingham Forest against Stoke City today.
The 18-year-old defender impressed when he came off the bench in midweek for his first taste of senior League action, having previously been in the 11 to face Bradford City in the Carabao Cup.
And he could get his chance again as the Reds look to arrest a run of three straight Championship defeats when they make the trip to the bet365 Stadium.
It would cap a memorable opening few weeks of the campaign for Back, who has come through the ranks at the Nigel Doughty Academy.
Injuries, illness and suspensions have limited boss Chris Hughton’s options so far this season and he remains particularly light on cover at full-back.
Summer signing Jordi Osei-tutu, a right-back, had been filling in on the left side but will miss this weekend with a hamstring injury picked up against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night.
That saw him forced off in the 17th minute, with 18-year-old Back drafted into the fray at right-back and Jordan Gabriel moving across to the left.
A late red card for Gabriel rules him out against the Potters, but Gaetan Bong is available after serving a three-match suspension and is likely to come in for Osei-tutu.
Forest still have Carl Jenkinson on the books. Like Bong, the former Arsenal man was part of a group told they are free to move on this summer.
Unlike his team-mate, however, there seems to be little chance of a route back for Jenkinson, despite the Reds’ problems.
“In all honesty, probably not,” said Hughton.
“For where we are at this moment, with those who have been training regularly with us and have been in our plans, then the answer would be, no.
“We have had Jordan Gabriel, who came back from loan. He’s still a very young player and inexperienced, but has been playing. Apart from a late sending-off, he would be playing and available.
“This is an opportunity for young Fin to make his second appearance.
“At the moment, that’s a route we would go down as opposed to (Jenkinson).”
He added: “Fin’s a lad who has developed well over the last season with the under-23s.
“In all honesty, did we think he’d be involved with the first team at this early stage of the season? The answer would be no.
“But sometimes you are forced into situations.
”He made good progress last season and this experience will be invaluable for him.”
Gunners loanee Osei-tutu was limited to only a handful of appearances on loan with Cardiff City last term due to a hamstring problem in the same leg.
The Reds will also continue to be without Joe Worrall (calf), Joe Lolley (illness) and Loic Mbe Soh (groin).
“We’re still assessing it,” Hughton said of Osei-tutu’s injury.
“It is his hamstring, but we are still assessing what period of time he will be out. We don’t think it’s so bad, but we will scan it and assess it.
“It’s disappointing for us, but your first thoughts are for the lad.
“It’s an exciting time at the start of his career. He’s a highly-rated player at Arsenal and even in the short period of time he’s been here, we could see the qualities he has - predominantly at right-back, but he’s also filled in at left-back for us.
“We just hope it doesn’t disrupt his season too much.
“Joe Lolley is still ill. Joe Worrall won’t make tomorrow. We are probably looking at after the international break. We are still assessing him.
“Joe’s quite a durable individual and he’s also an individual who can play through slight injuries. But realistically, we’re looking at after the international break.”
Hughton’s men take on the Potters having been toppled 2-1 by Coventry City, Bournemouth and Rovers in their opening three games.