The selection decision facing Steve Cooper for Nottingham Forest showdown at Sheffield United

Nottingham Forest will be without Max Lowe when they travel to Sheffield United on Friday night - and boss Steve Cooper has remained tight-lipped on who will replace him.

Midfielder Jack Colback has filled in for Lowe before, and is the most likely option to take up the left wing-back role while his teammate is ineligible to feature against his parent club.

But Cooper also has January signing Richie Laryea in the squad, with the Canada international yet to make his debut for the Reds.

“Everybody comes into our thoughts,” the Welshman said, ahead of the crunch clash against fellow promotion-contenders at Bramall Lane.

“We’ve only got Lewis (Grabban) who isn’t with us at the moment, because he’s injured. Everybody else is available and training well. We always train together as a group.

“Everybody comes into our thinking.

“You want to be in a position where, if you have a player injured or unavailable for whatever reason, then it’s not too damaging.

“We don’t want to be reliant on any one position or any one player, because we want to be very much about the team.

“If someone isn’t available it’s a case of next man up. That will be the same for the team that we pick on Friday.”

Colback has been in fine form under Cooper, playing just as well when he’s taken up a defensive position as he has in the middle of the pitch.

And he is one of a few players who have the flexibility to take up a few different roles.

“You definitely need players who can play a couple of different positions in games,” Cooper added.

“Jimmy Garner has played deeper in midfield and played slightly higher at times. Yatesy (Ryan Yates) has played at centre-back.

“You definitely need players who can play a number of positions, or certainly a couple of