Club captain Joe Worrall has been out of the first-team picture at Nottingham Forest since last month, but head coach Steve Cooper insists there is a route back into his thinking for “everyone” at the City Ground.
Worrall has generally not been involved in preparations for games on the training ground in recent weeks, following a disagreement behind the scenes.
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Fellow defender Scott McKenna has also been absent from the squad recently. He is out of contract in the summer and Forest will look to recoup a small transfer fee for the Scotland international during the January window.
Forest added to their options in the centre of defence in the summer with the signing of Brazilian Murillo and Ireland international Andrew Omobamidele, while Felipe and Moussa Niakhate have also been further up the pecking order.
But, when asked at his pre-match press conference if there was a route back into his plans for Worrall, Cooper said: “There is a way back for everyone.”
Speaking the day after a 5-0 defeat to Fulham, Cooper said: “I think that this is a time now where, again, players staff and myself — there is an opportunity to show up.
“In terms of character, want and willingness to do whatever it takes to put last night right. It is not about one person, be they a player or member of staff, it is about everyone showing togetherness and real fight.”
Cooper finds himself under pressure following a run of one win in 11 Premier League games and it would be perfect timing if Forest could halt that at Molineux on Saturday.
It remains to be seen if Worrall, who signed a new three-year contract in September, will be part of the squad.
When asked how he saw Worrall’s situation following his recent absence, Cooper said: “Joe is the same as everyone else. Everyone knows how many players we have. There is no point me talking about any one player and I am not going to. It is about togetherness now, it is about the collective. I always talk about there being no hierarchy here.
“It does not matter how long you have been at the club. First in or last in, we are all on an even keel and we need to keep seeing this badge that is all around this place and show that we really want to do well for it.”
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Worrall and McKenna were both key figures as Forest won promotion from the Championship via the play-offs in the spring of 2022.
Worrall has a particularly strong connection with the club, having come through the ranks of the Nigel Doughty Academy. He had previously been a ball boy at the City Ground, before making his first team debut at Reading in October 2016.
The 26-year-old has gone on to make 210 starts and 13 sub appearances in all competitions for Forest, scoring five goals.
GO DEEPER
Nottingham Forest mailbag with Daniel Taylor: Is Cooper getting sacked?
(Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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