The Scotland cap was brought back into the squad by Nuno Espirito Santo

Scott McKenna was handed an unexpected lifeline by Nuno Espirito Santo yesterday when he was recalled into Nottingham Forest’s matchday squad.

The Scotland cap was involved on game day for the first time since September for his club as he sat on the bench in their FA Cup draw with League One side Blackpool at home. He may well have been an unused substitute on the day as his side battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 but it appeared to be an olive branch extended by the manager.

McKenna, 27, last kicked a ball for Forest in a 1-1 draw with Burnley under former boss Steve Cooper on September 18 and has only played for his country since.

Given Forest were playing against lesser competition in the Tangerines, at home in the FA Cup, it may have been a conscious decision by Nuno to bring the defender in from the cold.

But it could mean the former Aberdeen man has trained his way back into the gaffer’s plans moving forward which would be a roadblock in Gers’ desires to sign the central defender.