Nottingham Forest forward Hillal Soudani is set to miss the rest of the season after breaking down in his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

The 31-year-old has been out since October having been forced off in the League Cup tie with Burton Albion.

DZ Football is reporting that the Algerian was due back to first-team action in April, but he will now miss what is left of the season after suffering a reoccurrence of the injury.

The attacker has two goals in eight appearances for Forest since his move from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer.

Soudani was signed by former manager Aitor Karanka and has yet to feature under new boss Martin O’Neill.

And the wait is set to continue after this fresh injury blow for the forward.

Forest are mid-table but remain five points off the play-off places in 12th, and still, harbour hopes of cracking into the top six come May.

Soudani will, unfortunately, be unable to aid their plight, but is it that big of a blow to the club?

We asked that question to our FLW writers, and here’s what they had to say on the matter.

Gary Hutchinson

“Who?

“It’s not a blow at all. I didn’t rate him when he signed, and his career in England has produced exactly what I expected.

“He’ll not score again for Forest. That’s my prediction.

“He’ll get fit and be sold.”

George Harbey

“In terms of squad depth, it’s a big blow for Nottingham Forest.

“Soudani obviously hasn’t featured too much this season, but he has looked very lively and actually has quite a decent goalscoring record from when he has been fit.

“But even Lewis Grabban can’t get a look-in under Martin O’Neill of late, so that suggests to me that Forest won’t miss him.”

Alfie Burns

“We’ve not seen enough of Soudani to class this as a big blow.

“Of course, it’s frustrating, but Forest have enough to manage without the forward.

“Had this been a Joe Lolley or Lewis Grabban you’d be more concerned.”

Louie Chandler

“It's a blow but not a huge one.

“Having brought in Bonatini on deadline day they have comfortably upgraded on the summer signing.

“With Grabban and Murphy both available in attack as well I cannot see it being an issue.”