How Keinan Davis made surprise early Nottingham Forest comeback against Sheffield United

Boss Steve Cooper was delighted to have Keinan Davis back available for Nottingham Forest’s play-offs clash with Sheffield United.

The striker had been sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury in last month’s defeat at Luton Town. And it had been expected he would be missing for the Reds’ semi-final against the Blades.

But he was named among the substitutes for the first leg at Bramall Lane. And he came off the bench to replace Sam Surridge with 15 minutes to go as the visitors secured a 2-1 advantage for Tuesday night’s return leg at the City Ground.

“It’s good to have him back. He had a really positive week,” said Cooper.

“The medics pulled me on Thursday, after we’d done the pre-match press conference, and said he’d really kicked on, that he might have a chance of being involved on Saturday. So I said, ‘okay, yeah, no problem!’.

“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.”

Jack Colback and Brennan Johnson found the net for Forest on an afternoon where they created a glut of chances. It puts them in a great position ahead of next week, but United kept the tie alive courtesy of Sander Berge’s late header.