Loan stars racing to be fit A handful of players are doubts for Nottingham Forest ahead of the visit of npower Championship leaders Cardiff. A lack of match fitness means on-loan duo Jermaine Jenas and Sam Hutchinson may miss out while Henri Lansbury also needs more training time. Lansbury, a #1m summer signing from Arsenal, is almost fit. Forest had hoped he would go away with the England Under-21s and feature in the European Championship play-off against Serbia, but the midfielder had to withdraw from Stuart Pearce's squad with injury and that makes him doubtful when Forest resume league action at the City Ground on Saturday. Strikers Simon Cox (Republic of Ireland) and Dexter Blackstock (Antigua and Barbuda) returned unscathed from international duty, but Blackstock is unavailable as he completes a three-match suspension. On-loan defender Daniel Ayala will continue to be monitored after a hamstring injury forced him off at half-time in the victory at Peterborough prior to the international break. Meanwhile, striker Marcus Tudgay is back in full training as he continues his recovery from a hernia operation. Cardiff duo Jordon Mutch and Craig Bellamy may both be in line for a return for the trip. Midfielder Mutch has missed the Bluebirds' last four league games with a foot injury he picked up in training. But the 20-year-old has now been given the all clear and could be named in Malky Mackay's starting XI. Bellamy has been struggling with a knee injury and Mackay admitted the Welsh forward is rated 50/50 for the trip. The former Liverpool man missed Cardiff's last league game against Ipswich and also withdrew from Wales' two recent World Cup qualifiers. Fellow attacker Tommy Smith is also available for selection again after recovering from a groin problem. Kim Bo-Kyung is also expected to travel despite picking up a minor niggle whilst on international duty with South Korea in Iran.
Source: PA
