Chris Hughton will be forced into making an enforced change to his Nottingham Forest side this afternoon, as the Reds prepare to take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Forest drew 1-1 with Luton Town in midweek, extending their unbeaten run to four games under Hughton's stewardship, despite playing 45 minutes with one less player.

Nicholas Ioannou was sent-off on the stroke of half-time for a strong challenge on Martin Cranie, and the left-back will subsequently miss Forest's next three games.

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This now means that there is a vacant spot to be filled at left-back, with a trio of players looking to come into the side and replace the Cypriot defender.

Carl Jenkinson came on at Kenilworth Road and played at left-back, with Hughton confirming that Yuri Ribeiro and Gaetan Bong are also fit and available.

Ribeiro has seemingly been frozen out at Forest despite being a key player for the Reds last term, whilst Bong is a player who Hughton knows well after their spells at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, Hughton has addressed the selection dilemma, saying: "It’s something I’ll have to think about.

"I thought Carl came in and did very well, in a position which is not his favoured one.

“It’s something I’ll have to look at. Looking at the options we’ve got, Tyler is not fit, but Yuri Ribeiro is fit and Gaetan Bong is also fit as well.”

The Verdict

It wouldn't surprise me if Bong started this afternoon.

He is a player who Hughton knows well and trusts having been a key player for him during his time at Brighton, and he is a natural, like-for-like replacement for Ioannou.

Fans will want to see Ribeiro feature for only the second time this season, but that seems unlikely given how he has been pushed out of the first-team picture for whatever reason.