Nottingham Forest will be sweating over the fitness of Cheikhou Kouyate as a fresh update suggests the midfielder has suffered a different injury to the one first identified.
The summer signing lined up for Senegal in their opening World Cup match against the Netherlands on Monday night. However, a second half collision with Frenkie de Jong left him needing treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off.
After the Group A clash, which Senegal lost 2-0, manager Aliou Cisse said Kouyate had twisted his ankle. Discussing his team’s injury situation, Cisse said: “Abdou Diallo has a muscular problem. Cheikhou Kouyate twisted his ankle. I hope there is nothing important. For now, I can’t say anything about it yet. We will take stock tomorrow (Tuesday) and we will have more information.”
It has since been claimed that Kouyate has suffered a torn thigh. According to Sport News Africa, the Forest man is expected to miss his country’s remaining group games, against Qatar on Friday and Ecuador next Tuesday.
Kouyate had been in good form for Steve Cooper ’s side prior to the break for the tournament in Qatar. Since making the move to the City Ground as a free agent he has made 13 appearances and found the back of the net in the 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in September.
The Reds have a number of players who will hope to be closer to making comebacks when the season resumes next month. Moussa Niakhate and Harry Toffolo have been sidelined with hamstring problems, while Omar Richards is yet to make his debut for the club after suffering a hairline fracture of the leg in the summer. Full-back Giulian Biancone has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an ACL injury.
Kouyate is one of 10 Forest players competing at the World Cup. Wayne Hennessey, Neco Williams and Brennan Johnson are representing Wales, Remo Freuler is with Switzerland, Ethan Horvath is part of the USA squad, Mohamed Drager is there with Tunisia, Richie Laryea with Canada, Brandon Aguilera with Costa Rica and Hwang Ui-jo with South Korea.
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