Nottingham Forest
Anthony Elanga injury updates
Anthony Elanga remains an injury doubt ahead of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League clash against Brentford next weekend.
The 21-year-old has been one of Forest’s standout performers this season following his £15 million move from Manchester United last summer.
Elanga missed Forest’s 2-2 draw against Blackpool in the FA Cup third round last Sunday after he suffered a knock during the victory against United on December 30.
Espirito Santo has already ruled Elanga out of Forest’s FA Cup replay against Blackpool next Wednesday, which indicates that the winger may not be fully fit for the team’s trip to Brentford on January 20.
When asked about the extent of Elanga’s injury after Forest’s draw with Blackpool, Espirito Santo said: ‘I don’t know, I don’t know.
‘For sure not for the next one [against Blackpool]. Hopefully he will recover and get back to the team.’
Before his side’s draw against Blackpool, the Forest manager said: ‘Anthony took a knock in the last game. He is an important absence for us.’
Espirito Santo also called for the FA Cup to scrap replays as the trip to Blackpool next week has altered his side’s plans during the winter break.
‘It is a reality. Everybody is aware there is a big congestion of games and fixtures are every day. It is something they have to look at,’ said the Forest manager.
‘If you ask me, I think it should be finished on the day – extra-time, penalties and whatever. Allow the players to have a little bit more time to recover.
‘Premier League teams are suffering with that. You know the issues with injuries, and one of the things is the amount of fixtures we are exposed to.’
