Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton has provided an update on the fitness of central midfielder Samba Sow, with the Reds boss telling the Nottingham Post that the player is out of contention for tonight's game away to Bournemouth. 

Sow formed a crucial part of Forest's play-off charge last term, with the Reds rarely losing when the Malian was in the starting eleven under former boss Sabri Lamouchi.

However due to the various injury problems that the 31-year-old has encountered this term, his game time has been limited to just five Championship appearances - with the former Dynamo Moscow man currently sidelined for the time being with a hamstring strain that kept him out of the recent defeat to Barnsley.

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to the South Coast to face Bournemouth, Houghton was quick to provide an update on the midfielder's availability:

“Samba is still out, but it’s not bad.

“He had a tight hamstring, so we brought him off in the Wycombe game as a precaution, which I think has worked out really well.

“He’ll be available very soon."

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Upon his return, Sow will be expected to compete with the likes of Jack Colback, Ryan Yates and Harry Arter for a place in the Forest engine room, with Houghton so far yet to put his finger on the right partnership for that area of the team thus far.

The Verdict 

Sow will be a big miss for tonight's game at Bournemouth but Forest fans will take solace from the fact that it appears the injury to the midfielder is not as bad as first feared.

There is no doubting his importance for the Reds, but it is just his fitness issues that have largely prevented the Mali international from having more of a lasting impact on proceedings to date.

His return will be most welcome as the Midlands club seek to establish some form of consistency as they head into December, with tough games against Swansea and Watford also on the horizon for Hughton's men.

Forest face a tall order when then rock up at the Vitality Stadium tonight and I feel that they will be lucky to leave the South Coast with anything if the Cherries are on their game again.