Thank you for following Friday's LIVE Nottingham Forest blog.
We kept you right up to date with all the latest Reds news, rumours and developments from the City Ground.
There’s no Championship action to look forward to this weekend, but we kept an eye on what’s happening on the international scene, with a number of Forest players away with their countries.
And back on the banks of the Trent, Martin O’Neill and his squad will be preparing for the visit of Swansea City when the league campaign resumes.
Thursday saw former midfielder John Metgod leave his position on the club’s board of directors to take up a role as assistant coach of the UAE national team.
You can recap all the latest updates with our blog below...
Key Events
Full-time!
That’s all for today’s live coverage of the Reds.
We will be back from 10am tomorrow morning as we count down the days until Martin O’Neill’s side are back in League action!
For now, though, here are today’s top three stories...
- Recap our web chat with the Post’s Paul Taylor
- The future of Forest’s 44 first-team players analysed
- Benalouane chant goes down well with defender
Under-23s beaten
Forest’s Under-23s beaten at Coventry.
See how they got on HERE.
Colback supports family bid to bring 'miracle' baby home from hospital
Great work from Forest midfielder Jack Colback as he raises awareness of a Nottingham family’s bid to bring their baby home.
Colback is supporting the family on their mission to bring baby Argyle, now five months old, who was born with an extremely rare heart condition.
More HERE.
From around the league....
West Brom have received a pre-derby boost after Kieran Gibbs and Tosin Adarabioyo and returned to training.
Gibbs has missed four matches while Adarabioyo sat out the last two in the SkyBet Championship, but both are in contention to face Birmingham next Friday.
Matt Phillips, who has played only four times since the turn of the year because of an ankle problem, remains a doubt for that game.
“Kieran (hip) and Tosin (hamstring) are now back in training,” head of science and medicine Andy Leaver told wba.co.uk.
“They’ve worked hard over the break, as has Matt who continues to make progress as well.”
Benalouane loving Forest fans
Forest fans’ chant for Yohan Benalouane goes down well with the Reds defender
Colback shows support
Forest midfielder Jack Colback supports family to bring ‘miracle’ baby home
Follow the Under-23s
Forest Under-23s are about to kick off in their clash with Coventry. You can follow the action in our dedicated live blog
Bad start for Reidy
Republic of Ireland Under-18s were beated 4-0 by Turkey in Istanbul yesterday in what was Andy Reid’s first game in charge.
Turkey scored three times in the space of 15 first-half minutes to take a 3-0 lead into the break.
Reid’s side improved in the second half, but the home side eventually rounded off a 4-0 win.
“Any Ireland team I played for at any level have never given up. No team that I’m in charge of ever will either. It was important we went out in the second half, and showed some of the steel we got.
“It gives us a lot of hope for Saturday. The lads know they can compete at this level.”
The team play Turkey in the second game tomorrow morning.
Weekly webchat
Today’s Forest webchat with Reds reporter Paul Taylor is now well underway - get your questions and comments in
Points deduction
Full story as Reds’ promotion rivals Birmingham City are set to be handed an immediate points deduction
Under-23s in action
Forest Under-23s travel to face Coventry City in the Professional Development League today (1pm kick-off). You’ll be able to follow the action in our dedicated live blog, which will be up and running later on.
Birmingham City deducted nine points
Birmingham City have been given an immediate nine-point deduction for breaching EFL’s rules on Profitability and Sustainability.
They will fall to 18th in the Championship, four points clear of the drop.
The club have been awarded no transfer embargo or fine.
Harewood has a new club
Former Forest ace Marlon Harewood has just signed for another club - at the age of 39!
Message for the fans
Brian Clough’s grandson has a lovely message for Reds supporters
The Three Lions play tonight!
England’s Jordan Pickford wants to keep a clean sheet in Friday’s clash with the Czech Republic in dedication to Three Lions “legend” Gordon Banks.
Wembley will pay tribute to Banks on Friday as a sell-out crowd will remember the 1966 World Cup winner before Gareth Southgate’s side kick off their Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
There will be a period of appreciation in England’s first match since Banks died aged 81 on February 12, with players to wear black armbands and a banner to be displayed featuring his yellow World Cup shirt and the number one.
Members of his family will be in the Royal Box and representatives from his former club Stoke have also been invited.
Southgate has confirmed Pickford will start the match despite recent criticism of his performances for Everton.
Now the 25-year-old is keen to enjoy an impressive evening between the posts as a tribute to Banks.
Asked how moving it will be to have Banks’ family in attendance, Pickford replied: “It’ll be great. A minute of applause for him as well.
“What a legend of a goalkeeper he was, so with his family being there, hopefully it’ll be a special night and (I can) keep a clean sheet for him.
“I never met him but I remember in the World Cup we got a message off every former player, from the World Cup just gone.
“He sent me a message, I think he sent all the keepers a message. I think every player got that message off a different former player. So I think I will be keeping that for a very long time.
“It was a written message, and a signature as well, it was nice. It was a nice touch before the World Cup, and my dad brought it up the other day and mentioned that.”
Injury update
Reds boss Martin O’Neill has provided an injury update on defender Michael Dawson
