Nottingham Forest will assess Callum Hudson-Odoi to see if he can play a part in the remaining four games of the Premier League season after being forced off with injury against Brentford.
The winger had to be replaced at half time at the City Ground after sustaining what the club fear is a hamstring injury, as Forest suffered a 2-0 defeat to Brentford that put a major dent in their Champions League hopes.
Forest play the first of their four remaining games at Crystal Palace on Monday and they are likely to do so without Hudson-Odoi, who will face a fight to play again this season if his hamstring injury is remotely severe.
Hudson-Odoi has contributed five goals and two assists this season, amid 25 starts and four substitute appearances.
“He felt something. We have to assess how he is. We think it is his hamstring. That is our major concern,” said Nuno Espirito Santo in his post-match press conference. “We want to try to solve our mistakes, we want to correct them, to compete better. But at the same time, we need to see if our players can hold on and keep going.”
Nuno’s side would have climbed into third place had they managed to beat Brentford, but instead slumped to defeat after conceding two uncharacteristically soft goals.
Kevin Schade put Brentford in front in the 44th minute, as he collected a long ball from Nathan Collins. Yoane Wissa made it 2-0 with 20 minutes left, when the Forest defence allowed a clearance from goalkeeper Mark Flekken to bounce over them.
“Two situations that we should have done much better… very similar. As a team, we do not allow too many situations like this. We keep clean sheets. That is our main and basic pillar,” said Nuno. “I believe that, with a better approach, we could easily have stopped them.
“To concede from a goal kick? Come on. The effort was there, but we cannot hide ourselves and not be clear – many times we give credit to the way we defend. Today was the other way around.”
Forest sit in sixth place, level on points with Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League qualifying position— and who will provide the opposition at the City Ground on the final day.
(Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)