Nottingham Forest injury state of play ahead of Coventry City clash

Nottingham Forest returned from the international break in style at the weekend, as they eased past Blackpool with a 4-1 win at Bloomfield Road.

Striker Lewis Grabban and defender Scott McKenna both made their injury comebacks in the Reds' victory. And with nine games to go, boss Steve Cooper will be hoping other key players return soon.

Forest sit just one point below the play-off places ahead of hosting Coventry City on Wednesday night. Here's a look at the injury state of play ahead of that clash with the Sky Blues.

Groin.

The left-back was forced off towards the end of the first half in the rout over Reading last month. He is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. It is Lowe’s second spell out of action this season with a groin issue, after he missed two months towards the end of last year, but this is a "slightly different" injury.

“It’s the same side for Max, but it’s a slightly different injury. It’s not like a complete recurrence of the one before," the Welshman said, prior to facing QPR.

Ankle.

Forest's win over the Royals came at a cost, with Cook joining Lowe in having to come off and facing a six-week absence. The centre-back went down late on at the City Ground and received treatment on the pitch. A stretcher was called, but the January signing turned down the option of using it. He wanted to depart under his own steam, and did so with the help of support on either side.

He was in the stands to watch his teammates see off QPR, wearing a protective boot and using crutches on that occasion. But he was without either of those just a few days later, when he was Trentside for the FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool.

“It’s a blow for the two lads and a blow for us. But, unfortunately, these things happen," the