Chris Wood and Matz Sels injury latest as Nottingham Forest visit Brighton | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest head to Brighton on Sunday with Vitor Pereira hoping for a late-season fitness lift.

Sidelined since October with a knee issue, striker Chris Wood has been badly missed after his top-scorer season. According to the New Zealand Herald, he could be back in April, though Pereira remains cautious over timings.

Pereira said he hopes the forward returns as soon as possible, adding he does not yet know when, but that Wood is working hard to come back.

Goalkeepers Matz Sels and John Victor are still out, and full-back Nicolo Savona is sidelined with no clear timeframe, while John is expected to miss the rest of the season. Pereira indicated Sels might rejoin training on Monday. Stefan Ortega felt a calf issue against Fenerbahce, continued after treatment, and is being monitored for the Brighton trip, with Pereira hoping there is no setback. With only one substitution left, he delayed introducing Morgan Gibbs-White.

Forest lost 2-1 to Fenerbahce on the night but advanced to the Europa League last 16 with a 4-2 aggregate win. They sit two points above the relegation places, a gap that could change before kick-off as 18th-placed West Ham visit Liverpool on Saturday. Pereira underlined the need to concentrate on effort, organisation and ambition, and to be mentally ready.

Source: Nottingham Post