Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi has revealed that on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper's Aro Muric's absence from the matchday squad for their 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City on Saturday was purely for tactical reasons.

Muric hasn't featured in a league game for Forest since late August, having fallen behind another summer signing, Brice Samba, in the pecking order at the City Ground.

The Kosovan had however been an ever-present on the bench for Forest in the league since then, although that run came to an end on Saturday, when Jordan Smith was instead named on the bench for the defeat to the side from the Welsh capital.

Speaking after the game, Lamouchi was asked if there was any issue behind Muric's absence from the squad on Saturday, with the Forest boss being quoted by Nottinghamshire Live as simply saying: "Nothing.

"There's no problem at all."

On the pitch, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's 14th-minute effort was enough to secure all three points for Cardiff, a result which leaves Forest fourth in the Championship standings, seven points adrift of the play-off spots, albeit with a game in hand on those around them.

The Verdict

It feels like this could be another in the coffin in Muric's time with Forest.

City will have sent the goalkeeper out on loan in the summer with the hope of getting him some much-needed game time this season, something which is simply not happening at Forest.

With the Kosovan now finding himself out of the matchday squad altogether, it does seem as though he is well down the pecking order at the City Ground, meaning you have to wonder if the Premier League champions will opt to recall him with the intention of sending him out on loan elsewhere in January.

Even if that does happen, the form that Brice Samba has shown between the posts for Forest since taking over from Muric earlier this season, means that is something that is unlikely to concern the Championship too much if it dows happen.