Ibrahim Sangare, Willy Boly and Ola Aina are expected back in Nottingham today — but Nuno Espirito Santo says they will not be available to face West Ham United on Saturday.
Sangare and Boly will be in celebratory mood after winning the Africa Cup of Nations title with Ivory Coast, while Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno says they will have to put an arm around Aina, who lost in Sunday’s final.
“They are not going to be available for this game,” Nuno said of the trio. “They will return to us and rejoin the group, but they won’t be available for this game.
“We expect them to arrive today.
“Ibrahim, Willy and Serge (Aurier) were champions and we have to congratulate them. But at the same time, Ola will be disappointed. But for sure, he will have another chance in the future.”
Nuno was without a clutch of players from early in his tenure, following his appointment in December, with Moussa Niakate and Cheick Kouyate both having represented Senegal in the tournament.
But he hopes Sangare and Boly will return in good spirits, with Ivory Coast having won 2-1 in the final against Nigeria.
“It will definitely be a boost for us because they come after a good moment,” Nuno added. “And they give us options which can make us stronger — that is the most important aspect, that for the first time everybody is going to be together.
Forest will still be without Gonzalo Montiel and Chris Wood, who both have hamstring injuries, with the seriousness of Montiel’s injury still being assessed.
