Jack Hobbs could miss a month through injury, but Kelvin Wilson and Michael Mancienne should be fit to face Bolton, says boss Dougie Freedman
Article Published On 2/17/2015 12:56:00 PM
Published By Nottingham Post | View The Full News Article
JACK Hobbs will miss up to four weeks with his hamstring injury - but Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman does expect Kelvin Wilson and Michael Mancienne to be fit to play this weekend.
The Reds boss admits it is a blow to lose his skipper for a month, following the problem he collected on the awful pitch at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.
But he was boosted by the return of Wilson to training today, in an open training session at the City Ground.
Mancienne was left out as a precaution, as the pitch was deemed too hard as he returns from an ankle problem - but he will train with the rest of the squad tomorrow.
But Freedman believes both men will be fit and available for the visit of his former club, Bolton, to the City Ground on Saturday.
"Unfortunately it is a heavy workload in the Championship and the players have to be prepared for that," said Freedman.
"Three games in a week were a little bit too much for Jack.
"He is a strong character but we need to make sure he is right now. Hopefully in three or four weeks time he will be fine.
"He will be out for around that length of time. But Kelvin Wilson is back in training and Michael Mancienne will be as well."
Freedman confirmed that Mancienne has not suffered a set back on his return - but that his absence was precautionary.
"He should have been training here today (at the open training session) but we decided to be cautious as the pitch was a little bit hard," said Freedman.
"But he is back and will be involved in training tomorrow.
"Jack is going to be missing for three or four weeks. It is a blow when you lose Britt (Assombalonga) and your captain in the space of a few days.
"That might lower expectations, perhaps. But we are a team, we are strong and we do have options.
"Reidy is making progress as well. He had surgery just before I came and he is working very, very hard in the gym.
"Since I knew Reidy when I played, his attitude towards his fitness has improved a heck of a lot.
"I see him working hard every day and hopefully we will have him coming back soon.
"But we have Mancienne and Wilson available, they should be fit for this weekend."
