Nottingham Forest legend makes Aleksandar Mitrovic comment as he backs 'best finisher' Sam Surridge

Nottingham Forest go into the play-offs with just one fit senior striker in Sam Surridge.

Reds captain Lewis Grabban will miss the rest of the campaign through injury, meaning he may have played his last game for the club as his contract winds down. Fans are still hoping Keinan Davis recovers from a hamstring problem to play a part in the semi-finals against Sheffield United, but that remains an outside bet at best.

However, Forest legend Garry Birtles says he is not concerned by a lack of depth, as he backs Surridge to shine, with the 23-year-old having scored eight goals in 20 games since his January move from Stoke. It is also worth remembering Surridge has started just six matches.

"I watch Surridge very closely. It's not just his finishing capabilities, it's his movement that worries defenders as well," European Cup winner Birtles said on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast.

"His work rate and trying to close defenders down to stop them playing, that lets midfield push up a couple of yards and the defenders even more. That makes life more uncomfortable and problematic for the opposition.

"Strikers are beholden on support from elsewhere. If you aren't getting it you can't blame them. He's an honest lad and he won't shirk the responsibility when he's on the ball.

"He runs the line and doesn't let defenders relax. As a striker, I know you can go 10 minutes without seeing the ball, but when it comes your way, you react. He's that sort of player for me. Since he got in the team and got 90 minutes we've seen one of the best finishers in the Championship.

"People will say that's Mitrovic, but he's a different sort of striker. Some of the finishes we've seen from Surridge have been sensational. It's not just the ones in the