ChampionshipTeam news – Forest to ring changes

Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies is set to make changes to his side ahead of the visit of FA Cup heroes Reading.All matches kick off at 15:00 unless otherwise stated
Saturday January 16
Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday
Barnsley will include new signing Nathan Doyle in their squad but could hand late fitness tests to Hugo Colace and Bobby Hassell ahead of the home derby clash with Sheffield Wednesday. Doyle, who spent four months on loan from Hull during the first half of the season, returned to Oakwell on a permanent basis this week and signed a two-and-a-half year deal. Argentine midfielder Colace and defender Hassell are both struggling with knocks, but are expected to be included in manager Mark Robins’ squad. Robins has no other new injury or suspension problems, but could be tempted to make one or two changes as his side look to bounce back from successive defeats. The Tykes went down 1-0 at Scunthorpe in the FA Cup earlier this month and lost their first league game in nine matches at Coventry last week.
Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Michael Gray could return to the squad for manager Alan Irvine’s first game in charge at Oakwell. But defender Richard Hinds (heel), midfielder Tommy Miller (hamstring) and goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell (ankle), who all missed the home FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on January 2, are still ruled out. Gray also missed out against Palace due to illness, but is back in contention as the Owls chase their first league win in 12 matches. The Owls’ scheduled home game against Peterborough last Saturday was postponed, while new boss Irvine has since been installed as Brian Laws’ replacement. Former Preston manager Irvine is not expected to make major changes to Wednesday’s starting line-up and has no new injury or suspension problems.
Blackpool v Queens Park Rangers
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is boosted by the return of defensive duo Rob Edwards and Ian Evatt for the home clash with QPR. The pair were suspended for last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Cardiff but come back into contention to face Holloway’s former club. Left-back Stephen Crainey will face a late fitness test on a thigh strain after missing the trip to Cardiff and Joe Martin is on stand-by to deputise again. Strikers Stephen McPhee and Billy Clarke remain on the sidelines due to injury and attacking midfielder Hameur Bouazza is away on international duty with Algeria. Meanwhile, Holloway is hoping to bring Arsenal midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 19, back to Bloomfield Road on loan until the end of the season.
Managerless QPR could welcome back long-term absentee Lee Cook for the trip to Bloomfield Road. The winger has not made an appearance since April due to knee problems, but he is back in full training and could boost a squad rocked by yet another managerial departure following Paul Hart’s decision to quit on Friday. Caretaker boss Mick Harford can also bring back on-loan Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who was ineligible for Tuesday night’s FA Cup defeat by Sheffield United. Ikeme could be handed his debut with regular number one Radek Cerny coming under increasing pressure. Striker Rowan Vine is still a fortnight away following a minor stomach operation and joins midfielders Gareth Ainsworth (calf), Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands (both knee) on the sidelines.
Bristol City v Preston North End
Bristol City have an injury concern over Marvin Elliott ahead of Preston’s trip to Ashton Gate. The former Millwall midfielder was nursing what was thought to be a hamstring injury at the end of the Robins’ 1-1 FA Cup draw with Cardiff on Tuesday night, but medical checks revealed he has damaged a nerve leading to his back. Elliott sat out training on Thursday and is rated as 50/50 to face Darren Ferguson’s side, but boss Gary Johnson is hopeful he will be passed fit. Wales defender Lewin Nyatanga is back in contention after serving a one-match suspension and Johnson must decide whether to restore him to the start line-up or keep faith with Liam Fontaine. Costa Rica striker Alvaro Saborio will be hoping to get the nod to start after replacing David Clarkson at half-time against the Bluebirds.
New Preston boss Darren Ferguson makes his bow at Ashton Gate without the services of winger Paul Parry. The former Cardiff player faces around a month on the sidelines with a knee problem. The 29-year-old first showed signs of the complaint when he was substituted during the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United at the end of December. French centre-half Youl Mawene (knee ligaments) and midfielder Barry Nicholson (broken leg) remain sidelined. However, Mawene is making steady progress after suffering knee ligament damage during the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in November. Ferguson, meanwhile, insists he will give his players opportunities to impress before looking to bring in new faces. Ferguson, who left Peterborough earlier this season, was last week appointed manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Doncaster Rovers v Watford
Doncaster skipper Brian Stock could make his first appearance since September when his side take on Watford. Stock, sidelined following ankle surgery, was an unused substitute at Coventry last time out, but manager Sean O’Driscoll may be tempted to hand him his comeback following Simon Gillett’s return to Southampton. Gillett is currently mulling over a permanent switch to Doncaster following the end of his loan spell. Another midfielder, Martin Woods, returned to full training this week after a groin problem. Woods last appeared in the home win over Sheffield Wednesday in early December and has missed the last three matches. Defender Adam Lockwood has still not completely recovered from a foot injury that has kept him out for three months, while young striker Waide Fairhurst is nursing damaged ankle ligaments. Long-term absentee Steve Brooker (Achilles) is edging his way back to full fitness.
Heidar Helguson is back in the Watford squad for the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium. The popular Iceland striker has rejoined the Hornets for a third spell on loan from QPR and is likely to go straight into the starting line-up. Teenage midfielder Ross Jenkins could also start after returning as a half-time substitute during the 5-0 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea. Jenkins had been sidelined for two and a half months following a back operation. Boss Malky Mackay is close to completing the signing of Scotland U21 midfielder Stephen McGinn from St Mirren, but he is not expected to link up with his new team-mates until Monday. Slovenian defender Jure Travner has joined Norwegian side FK Haugesund on trial.
Ipswich Town v Coventry City
Ipswich manager Roy Keane will be without new goalkeeper Brian Murphy for the visit of Coventry. Murphy was included in the squad for the first time last weekend after his move from Irish side Bohemians but injured his ankle ligaments in the warm-up. He will be out for another 10 days at least so Arran Lee-Barrett will continue in goal with youngster Ian McLoughlin deputising on the bench. Striker Jon Stead sits out the third match of a four-game suspension following his Boxing Day dismissal while on-loan Crystal Palace striker Stern John is available. David Norris successfully claimed his first goal of the season against Leicester last Sunday after recovering from a serious knee injury but Keane remains without fellow knee injury victims Richard Wright and Luciano Civelli.
Chris Coleman is hoping Leon Best and Sammy Clingan recover in time to line up for Coventry at Portman Road. Striker Best scored a well-taken opener in the club’s heartbreaking 2-1 FA Cup defeat against Portsmouth on Tuesday night but had to come off shortly into extra time nursing a thigh injury. Influential midfielder Clingan, meanwhile, was forced off at the interval suffering with mild concussion following a clash with Papa Bouba Diop. But Coleman is hopeful both will be okay for the trip to Portman Road as his Sky Blues side look to make it five wins in their last six Championship games. New signings Carl Baker and Gary Deegan return and are both pushing to start having been ineligible to face Pompey, as do on-loan duo Leon Barnett and Gary Madine who were denied permission to play by their parent clubs.
Nottingham Forest v Reading
Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies has promised changes to his starting XI for the visit of FA Cup giantkillers Reading. Davies made seven changes as his side went out of the cup at Birmingham in midweek. The likes of Kelvin Wilson, Chris Gunter, Paul Anderson, Paul McKenna, Radoslaw Majewski and Dexter Blackstock will be pushing for recalls. Nicky Shorey was ineligible at St Andrew’s under the terms of his loan from Aston Villa but the left-back will return to the starting line-up against his former club. Striker Robert Earnshaw is still nursing a hamstring problem and remains a doubt. Forest are unbeaten in 17 Championship matches and will be looking to consolidate second place in the table.
Andy Griffin and Gunnar Thorvaldsson will hope to force their way into contention for debuts for Reading when the FA Cup heroes travel to take on in-form Forest. Full-back Griffin signed on loan from Stoke for the remainder of the season on Tuesday while Icelandic striker Thorvaldsson has received international clearance to complete his loan from Esbjerg. The duo were not eligible for the famous 2-1 third-round replay win at Liverpool on Wednesday night but will both travel to the City Ground. Griffin is set to start at right-back in place of converted midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson while Thorvaldsson will have to settle for a place on the bench. Shane Long will hope for a start after he came on to head the winner at Anfield but interim boss Brian McDermott may stick with the combination of Grzegorz Rasiak and Simon Church in attack. Noel Hunt and Chris Armstrong (both knee) remain the Royals’ only injury worries.
Peterborough United v Derby County
Peterborough manager Mark Cooper will have a trio of players ready to make their debuts when fellow strugglers Derby visit. Forwards Reuben Reid and Izale Mcleod could come in after joining on loan from West Brom and Charlton respectively while Tottenham midfielder Jake Livermore is also available. Livermore has signed a loan deal until the end of the season and will come up against the Rams – the side he played 16 games for earlier this season. Defender Gabriel Zakuani is fit after groin problems, while Exodus Geohaghon and Josh Simpson return after being cup tied for the 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Tottenham. Transfer-listed striker Aaron Mclean was left out of the squad at White Hart Lane and Cooper has yet to decide whether he will feature against Derby.
Defender Miles Addison is a major doubt for Derby’s trip to London Road. The centre-half looks to have suffered a recurrence of the foot injury that blighted him earlier this season during the FA Cup win over Millwall in midweek. Shaun Barker replaced Addison after 41 minutes of the third-round replay for his first taste of first-team action in six weeks after a thigh problem. With Dean Leacock sidelined until the end of February following knee surgery, Barker could be forced to start at London Road. Right-back Nicky Hunt and striker DJ Campbell return to the reckoning after their respective loan deals made them ineligible for the FA Cup. Campbell staked his claim for a starting place with two goals as the reserves beat Walsall 3-0 on Wednesday. Lee Hendrie played the full 90 minutes of that game after a hamstring injury and the midfielder also comes back into contention.
Plymouth Argyle v Crystal Palace
Plymouth wait on the fitness of striker Jamie Mackie ahead of their home Championship game against Crystal Palace. Mackie (flu) was ruled out of the 3-0 midweek FA Cup third round replay defeat at Newcastle United. The five-goal joint top scorer – winger Alan Judge also has five goals to his name – was replaced by Ashley Barnes in attack. Icelandic international Kari Arnason shrugged off a leg injury to play at centre half alongside fit-again Chris Barker in an otherwise unchanged line-up from the starting XI that drew 0-0 with the Magpies at Home Park last time out. Barnes was substituted on the hour by Cillian Sheridan, who has now returned to Celtic following his loan spell at Plymouth. Midfielder Jim Patterson (hamstring) is still an injury doubt while winger Yannick Bolasie has returned from his loan spell at Barnet and comes back into consideration having been cup-tied for Wednesday’s trip.
Crystal Palace are hopeful Victor Moses will be fit for the trip to Home Park. The teenage winger, a target for a host of Premier League clubs, has been struggling with a foot injury but was due to train towards the end of the week ahead of what looks likely to be one of his last games for the Eagles. Boss Neil Warnock will need to reshuffle his defence since his side’s last outing, the FA Cup win at Sheffield Wednesday a fortnight ago, after centre-half Jose Fonte was sold to Southampton. Danny Butterfield will come back in if he has recovered from a hamstring injury while Warnock could turn to veteran Matt Lawrence, who has been frozen out since September. Otherwise young left-back Lee Hills, who was cup-tied at Hillsborough, could return with Clint Hill moving inside to centre-back. Winger Sean Scannell is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Scunthorpe United v Cardiff City
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins looks set to be without Rob Jones and Josh Wright for the home clash against Cardiff. Skipper Jones is still struggling with the hamstring injury that kept him out of last weekend’s 4-1 thrashing of Derby, so Cliff Byrne and David Mirfin are expected to continue their central-defensive partnership. Midfielder Wright has not trained this week due to illness and is almost certain to miss out, with Grant McCann expected to replace him after returning from a two-match suspension. Goalkeeper Joe Murphy returned to training this week after missing the last two matches with a shoulder problem, but even if he is passed fit Josh Lillis could get the nod ahead of him after impressing in the Iron number one’s absence. Defender Kenny Milne will definitely not feature as the defender is experiencing more discomfort in his knee.
Gavin Rae will miss Cardiff’s trip to Glanford Park as Dave Jones’s side look to record a much-needed victory. The midfielder made a speedy recovery to return from a broken hand last weekend but limped out of Tuesday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Bristol City nursing a tight hamstring. Striker Jay Bothroyd (illness) and winger Chris Burke (rib) both missed the 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate – a result which extended the club’s winless run to four games – but manager Dave Jones will be hoping to have them both available for the trip to Glanford Park. Ross McCormack has been struggling with the same virus that struck down fellow striker Bothroyd but he has battled through, while Joe Ledley continues to play on despite his troubling hip injury. Young striker Josh Magennis is hoping to return to training towards the end of February after sustaining a broken fibula in last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Blackpool. Solomon Taiwo will be available after Jones temporarily put the brakes on his loan move to Colchester, while Kelvin Etuhu is back in South Wales having received treatment on an ankle problem at parent club Manchester City.
Sheffield United v Middlesbrough
Sheffield United defender Matt Kilgallon is back in contention for his side’s home league clash with Middlesbrough. Kilgallon, who missed the midweek FA Cup win at QPR due to a hamstring problem, has declared himself fit, but Henri Camara (groin) remains doubtful after sitting out the third-round replay at Loftus Road. Blades manager Kevin Blackwell must decide whether to include Kilgallon, yet to sign a new contract offer at Bramall Lane, or retain recent signing Marcel Seip alongside Chris Morgan at the heart of defence. Fellow striker Darius Henderson overcame a gluteal muscle problem to step off the bench against QPR and is available, but Gary Naysmith is still working towards full fitness following a knee injury. Jamie Ward and Lee Williamson are both expected to be included in the squad despite recent niggles.
Middlesbrough will include new signings Chris Killen, Willo Flood and Barry Robson in their squad for the league clash at Brammall Lane. Boro manager Gordon Strachan, who completed the permanent signing of the former Celtic trio earlier his week, will also be boosted by the return of Jeremie Aliadiere. The French winger has been sidelined since Boxing Day due to the recurrence of an ankle injury, but is back in contention and ready to add to Strachan’s selection dilemmas. Striker Leroy Lita will sit out the final game of a three-match ban, but Strachan is hoping Adam Johnson has shaken off a hamstring problem that would have ruled him out last weekend had the home clash with Swansea not been postponed. Isaiah Osbourne (groin) and Marvin Emnes (bruised ribs) are expected to return to the squad, but Emanuel Pogatetz is still out with a hamstring injury and Seb Hines (ankle and medial ligament) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) remain long-term absentees.
Swansea City v Leicester City
Cedric van der Gun is Swansea’s only injury doubt ahead of Leicester’s visit. The Dutch winger limped out of training on Thursday with a slight hamstring problem and his fitness will be monitored ahead of the game. Striker Craig Beattie is expected to return to the starting line-up for the first time since December 12 after recovering from illness and a knee injury. Spaniard Gorka Pintado is the man likely to make way for Beattie, having failed to score for Paulo Sousa’s side this season. Sousa is sure to make further changes to the side that lost at Leicester in the FA Cup last time out, with Angel Rangel, Leon Britton, Andrea Orlandi and Fede Bessone set to return. Full-back Marcos Painter will not be included in the squad after joining Brighton on loan this week.
Bruno Berner could come back into contention for Leicester’s trip to the Liberty Stadium. The Swiss defender has been sidelined since a calf injury forced him off during the 3-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday on December 12. Should he be fit, Berner is likely to be named among the substitutes with Ryan McGivern continuing at left-back after extending his loan spell from Manchester City until the end of the season. Boss Nigel Pearson has a wealth of options should he wish to freshen up his attack with Paul Gallacher, Dany N’Guessan, Yann Kermorgant and Martyn Waghorn all pushing for recalls. The Foxes will be looking to complete a treble over Swansea having beaten the Welsh side 2-1 in the league and FA Cup already this season. N’Guessan scored the winning goal on both occasions.

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