As usual, the club are not telling us about the things we interested in. There used to be a section on the OS giving info on injured players; can't find it anymore, but it wasn't updated very often anyway.

Reading between the lines of what is coming out it doesn't look like either Cohen or Reidy will be ready for the kick off; and Britt will not be ready before February at best.

I think the manager should forget about those three and concentrate on putting together a starting eleven who are reliable and who he knows will be fit for the start and stay fit. That means for me as well as the above mentioned Wilson, Hobbs, Vaughan, Fryatt should not be in the first choice eleven.

Hobbs and Wilson are quality CBs but will they stay fit for the first ten games? I doubt it. (Wilson is suspended for the first game anyway I think). It is important to have an established back five. Say what you like about BD but this is one thing he got right.

I would be happy to have a back five of DDV, Lichaj, MM, MM, Fox for the first ten games.

A defensive midfielder should be a priority target for the manager. Brum are keen on Tesche apparently, and it would be hard to turn down a serious offer, but if he stays I'd have him taking over Gardner's role. Again because he is more reliable that Vaughan.

I'd go for a 4-1-4-1 formation. In front of Tesche I'd have, C Burke, Henri, Ozzy, Antonio, and Dex as loan striker.

As well as a DM, we also need a FB or two, and a striker. With that starting line up I think we should be top half comfortably. To go any higher depends on what we can get from our injury prone players and any additions we can make.

Good Luck Dougie

I agree with most of that Red. Definitely the manager should not be relying on Cohen and Reid who won't play a huge part in next season (or any season in the future). I think Hobbs is worth a gamble because he was fit from Jan onwards so fingers crossed we can keep him fit. Same goes with Wilson who stayed fit but his form went downhill. Who is the other MM in your list? Mancienne and?

I also think Vaughan should be considered because he was fit for much of the end of the season. But I agree the midfield should be built around Burke, Osborn, Henri and Antonio. I'd like Dougie to play a 4-3-3 formation so that Antonio has more freedom to attack (let's face it he isn't going to defend). Have a front 3 of Antonio, Dex and Burke. A midfield three of Osborn, Lansbury and Vaughan. Then a back 4 of Lichaj, Hobbs, MM and someone new at LB.

MM = Matt Mills.

After it became clear that our outside chance of making the playoffs last season (i.e. after Norwich away) had gone DF moved to a more adventurous 4-3-3, but I think that left us too exposed and we started losing to teams we should have beaten.

If our back five does turn out to be rock solid then we could go 4-3-3, but I would sooner start the season with caution and play a defensive formation and hit teams on the break.

if Mills signs I would hope we might move both Hobbs and Wilson on and use Rieria and Laing as back up.

why have players on high wages second choice even on the odd times that they are fit?

actually think a Mills- Mancienne partnership could work really well

I know Hobbs has had his injury problems but you'd seriously move him on? Ignoring the fact that fee is no use to us, he's our best defender when fit and had a bit of a run in the team towards the back end of last season. I wouldn't personally write him off just yet.

Wilson to me is too inconsistent when he is fit and has the back issues which will never be fully resolved and have been bubbling away for some time. IF we was to trim the CB's he'd be first on my list.

The thing that concerns me is that Manciene is MUCH better as a CB than as a full back or CDM, but I have the horrible feeling DF will continue using him out of position. Even though he was our best CB for the first part of last season

Completely agree Ray, Hobbs is easily our best defender and he's a proper leader. I am fed up of the injured players sitting on the sidelines but I would be prepared to take the risk with Hobbs because I think he's been unlucky.

We have to stop playing people out of position. Mancienne should play CB or not at all. And Lichaj at RB and Fox at LB because they are the only full backs we have

If Hobbs can prove his fitness he should play ahead of Mills or Wilson but that is a big if.

I think Laing has been released, he has said as much in the Scottish press. If that is the case I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up at the Lane. (Meadow not White Hart)

I'm hoping Riera is one who makes the breakthrough next season.

Reid and Cohen returning should be looked on by Freedman as a bonus, as well as Assombalonga and Fryatt. He definitely should build his team on the assumption that they won't feature much if at all next season.

A thread about injury news and yet no mention of Jamie Ward ?
Where does he fit into all this ?

Well, he hasn't joined the club officially yet. Plus you should look up some of our players injury records, he's almost healthy by comparison.

But you do have highlight one of the main reasons I thought we should be wary of signing him

How about 3 at the back (Hobbs, Mills, Mancienne)? Lichaj and Fox as wing backs (Lichaj has the stamina, Fox can't defend anyway), midfield 3 of Burke, Lansbury and Osborn, with Antonio and Dex up front?

Should be fun to watch at any rate

Imagine then if you could add Cohen, Reid and Britt to the mix! I wonder if we will ever get to see them grace the same pitch at the same time (and fully fit!)

That will never happen Macca!

Not sure about Fox as a wing back because he's so slow. I think Osborn could probably do a job there but he should ideally play in CM.

The further Fox is placed from the Forest goal the better really.

According to those on twitter, Cohen amd Fryatt will be ready in September, which is extremely good news! There is however, no word of if or when Reid will be fit again, but I do hope he plays a part in the team before Christmas.

Reid and Christmas makes me think of overindulgence