Nottm Forest V Middlesbrough at The City Ground : Match Preview

06 March 2015 10:01
Nottm Forest V Middlesbrough - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


No new worries for Forest

Dougie Freedman has no new problems as he looks to bounce back from his first defeat as Nottingham Forest manager against Championship leaders Middlesbrough.

Freedman may opt to tweak things following defeat at Charlton on Tuesday night - Forest's first loss in seven matches under the Scot.

Defenders Michael Mancienne and Kelvin Wilson, midfielder David Vaughan, winger Jamie Paterson and strikers Lars Veldwijk and Dexter Blackstock are options for the Reds boss.

Chris Cohen (knee), Andy Reid (groin) and Jack Hobbs (hamstring) remain absent for Forest.

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka could be handed a significant fitness boost as the club's promotion campaign reaches its climax.

The Teessiders head for the City Ground with no fresh injury problems and a trio of players closing in on returns to the squad.

Midfielder Muzzy Carayol is gradually building up match fitness with the Under-21s following his return to full training after a cruciate ligament injury which sidelined him for 11 months, and he could soon be joined by defenders Daniel Ayala and Damia Abella.

Ayala has missed the last six games with a thigh problem but is expected to resume training within a week or so, while Abella's knee injury, which has sidelined him since September, is four to six weeks away from rejoining the rest of the squad. That would leave only long-term casualty Rhys Williams working his way back after a second serious Achilles injury.


Source: PA