Nottm Forest v Bolton at The City Ground - Match Preview

Dougie Freedman will be without his captain and his leading goal scorer as he tries to maintain his unbeaten start as Nottingham Forest manager against his former club Bolton.

Hobbs faces around a month out after sustaining a hamstring problem during the thrilling 4-4 draw with Blackpool last Saturday, with Freedman blaming the poor condition of the Bloomfield Road pitch for the defender's injury.

News of Hobbs' absence came just days after the Reds lost 15-goal striker Britt Assombalonga to a serious knee injury for the next 12 months.

However, both Kelvin Wilson and Michael Mancienne (ankle) resumed training this week after injuries and both could return to the Forest squad - with one of them set to replace Hobbs in the starting line up.

Bolton's numbers could be swelled by the returns of Matt Mills, Craig Davies and Emile Heskey.

Wanderers have been seriously depleted in recent games with their casualty list almost running into double figures but defender Mills (knee) and attacking pair Davies and Heskey (both hamstring) are all expected to train with a view to being involved in the midlands.

Midfielder Mark Davies could return in March following his latest knee-injury setback but Darren Pratley (hamstring), Adam Bogdan (ankle), Max Clayton (knee) and Liam Trotter (thigh) are all still on the sidelines.

Teenager Zach Clough will hope to keep his spot in the starting XI following five goals in his six games, after only making his debut under current boss Neil Lennon

Source : PA

Source: PA