Keinan, Lolley pushing for place

NOTTINGHAM Forest have their Championship play-off semifinal against Sheffield United in their hands as they prepare for tonight’s second leg at the City Ground.

And boss Steve Cooper must now decide whether to stick or twist when it comes to his team selection.

The Forest head coach says he has no fresh injury concerns, with midfielder Ryan Yates available despite taking another whack to the shoulder which was already causing him some trouble.

The big call facing the Welshman is whether Keinan Davis is fit to start. And if he is, does he go into the starting 11?

The striker made his comeback from off the bench against the Blades, having been sidelined since last month with a hamstring issue. Cooper said afterwards: “It’s great to have him back, and good for him to get some minutes. He did some good things, as he does. Let’s see what he looks like for Tuesday.”

Davis had caused United all sorts of problems in the away league fixture in March. But fellow front man Sam Surridge grasped his opportunity in the absence of the Aston Villa loanee and Lewis Grabban, relishing the chance to get a run of games.

Clinical finishing has seen Surridge bag eight goals in 21 appearances in the Garibaldi, including a hat-trick against Swansea City in the last match at the City Ground. He could have got on the scoresheet on Saturday, too, and also made a brilliant clearance from off the line at the other end of the pitch.

Cooper is unlikely to make too many changes to his side. But other than Davis, Joe Lolley may feel he has put a case forward for inclusion.

The winger has found game time hard to come by for much of this term. However, he looked back to his old self at the weekend, setting up Johnson for the second goal with a great bit of determination to win the ball, followed by a surging run. ■■Predicted Forest XI: Samba; Worrall, Cook, Mckenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback; Zinckernagel; Johnson, Surridge.