Nottingham Forest injury update provided as 'hungrier' claim made ahead of play-offs showdown

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper hopes Jack Colback and Ryan Yates will be available for Saturday’s play-off semi-final first leg against Sheffield United.

The duo were left out of the matchday squad for the Reds’ final match of the regular season, against Hull City. Colback had been struggling with a groin problem, while his teammate took a knock to the shoulder in the defeat at Bournemouth. Cooper says they will be given “every chance” to feature at Bramall Lane.

Defender Scott McKenna had been an unused substitute last weekend due to illness but is fine to face the Blades. Djed Spence, Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge all came off the bench in that clash, with Forest not wanting to take any risks ahead of the crucial double-header.

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Morgan Gibbs-White has claimed that Sheffield United are "hungrier" than Nottingham Forest ahead of the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.

Forest travel to Bramall Lane on Saturday (3pm) for the first leg of their play-off tie before hosting Paul Heckingbottom's men at the City Ground on Tuesday (May 17, 7.45pm). Both meetings between the two sides this season have ended 1-1, with Ryan Yates heading a 95th-minute equaliser in Sheffield back in March.

Speaking prior to Saturday highly-anticipated contest, Gibbs-White backed his team going into the double-header having ended the regular campaign with three straight wins - including a 4-0 win over champions Fulham. "It's going to be a tough test Saturday but I really believe we've got it," said the Blades' player of the season.

"I wouldn't say there's a favourite, I'd say we're definitely more hungrier. I feel like with the last games we've had and the form we've been in we're the most feared team right