Nottingham Forest are submitting an application to the Premier League requesting for Steve Cook to be reinstated in their 25-man squad, as they deal with a severe injury crisis.
Forest are seeking permission for Cook, the 31-year-old centre-back, to be available for matches after scans revealed Scott McKenna and Willy Boly are set for lengthy periods out of action.
McKenna, the Scotland international, is facing six weeks out while former Wolves defender Boly could be sidelined for up to three months after both defenders sustained hamstring injuries in the defeat at Fulham on Saturday.
Steve Cooper was forced into making a double substitution after just seven minutes at Craven Cottage when McKenna and Boly both went down injured.
It is understood that, as part of the application, Forest will disclose medical reports on the condition of Boly to boost their case.
Forest face champions Manchester City at home this weekend and have only Felipe and Joe Worrall available at centre-half.
Moussa Niakhate, the £12.5m summer signing from Mainz, is still building up his fitness after a long-term injury.
Cook was left out of Forest’s 25-man squad after turning down a loan move to the Championship, with Blackburn, Luton, Stoke, Reading and Cardiff all interested in signing him.
Now Forest are waiting for the green light from the Premier League to include him in their squad for the final 16 matches.
Due to the club’s extreme injury crisis, and as Cook is already registered as a signing, Forest feel they have grounds to be successful in their appeal.
Forest are already without Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson, captain Ryan Yates, Cheikhou Kouyate, Omar Richards and Giulian Biancone through injury.
Forest submitted their application today and hope to discover the outcome before midday on Friday.
Cook was signed by Forest last January on a free transfer from Bournemouth and played a major role in the club’s return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence.
Source: News