April 30 2000

Rogers Off To Rovers: Alan Rogers is off to Blackburn Rovers next season if you believe all you read in the papers. The rumours are based on the fact that Graham Souness chose not to watch Rovers go down 2-1 to Crystal Palace, instead he took a seat in the directors box at the City Ground to watch Forest beat Port Vale 2-0.

April 28 2000

Youngsters Still Waiting: Richard Cooper and Gareth Edds are still waiting to discover whether they will be given their big break against Port Vale this weekend.

Not the the issue of Division One survival is put to rest the manager has been toying with the idea of blooding one or two of the youngsters. The pair are both in the squad for tomorrow's game at the City Ground with Port Vale but there is no news yet regarding Platt's starting line up.

April 25 2000

Vaughan OK: Forest are confident that defender Tony Vaughan will be available to face Port Vale next weekend, despite suffering an injury at Fulham. It was feared that his substitution yesterday was related to the knee ligament injury which he has only recently returned from. But the good news is that he has not suffered any form of relapse, and the £350,000 signing from Manchester City is predicted to be available for the Port Vale game on Saturday.

Platt To Test Youngsters: Now that Forest are absolutely safe in Division One David Platt is turning his thoughts towards next season. Yesterday's draw with Fulham combined with results elsewhere to guarantee the Reds First Division football next term and Platt has been quick to suggest that the younger members of his squad may be about to get a taste of senior action.

Platt said: "I'm keen to keep the team that has done so well just recently together, but having said that there are one or two young lads I would like to take a look at in our remaining two games."

The two youngsters most likely to feature are Richard Cooper and Gareth Edds, who have both been on the bench in recent games.

Platt continued: "Richard Cooper has come close on a couple of occasions but he hasn't quite got there, his attitude has been superb and he deserves some recognition.

"Gareth has done very well at reserve level just recently and deserves his call up for the first team squad."

April 21 2000

Team News For Saturday: David Platt is forced to make one change for tomorrow's game at the City Ground. Jon Olav Hjelde will step back into first team action to replace the injured Colin Calderwood (who would have been suspended had he not been injured). Otherwise the squad will be the same as the one that beat Birmingham last week at St. Andrews.

April 20 2000

Fulham Check Out Quashie: After earlier rumours that Bolton were interested in Nigel Quashie were dismissed by Sam Allardyce, the press are now speculating that Fulham are monitoring the situation.

Quashie is from West London and his family all live in the area. He has failed to settle up in Nottingham and is believed to be keen on a move back to London.

April 18 2000

Bolton Deny Quashie Link: Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has today denied reports that he is interested in Nigel Quashie. The Bolton boss said: "There is absolutely no truth in any of those rumours from the weekend, I am not interested in Quashie... don't believe what you read in the papers."

April 17 2000

Bolton Target Quashie: Latest rumours in the press indicate that Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is considering a move for transfer listed Nigel Quashie.

Quashie was transfer listed last week after a much publicised training ground 'bust-up' with David Platt. Allardyce is aware of the situation and with Bolton looking increasingly likely to lose Eidur Gudjohnsen he is understood to be interested in Quashie as a replacement.

April 16 2000

Traore Is A Target: David Platt is rumoured to be targeting Liverpool's young French defender Djimi Traore as a potential summer buy.

Chief scout Ian Storey-Moore watched the powerful youngster in the reserves last week. As a result of Storey-Moore's report Platt is rumoured to be preparing a £1 million bid for the close season.

Traore turned down a loan move to Forest earlier in the season. He is also a target for Sunderland. However, Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier holds the defender in high regard. He has been made the captain of the reserve side and Houllier has stressed that he is one for the future and that future should stay with Liverpool.

April 14 2000

Terry To Start: John Terry's impressive twenty five minutes at the end of last weeks game against Charlton look to have earned the youngster a starting place in tomorrow's game at St. Andrews.

David Platt is believed to be ready to play 19 year old Terry alongside Colin Calderwood instead of Norwegian Jon Olav Hjelde.

Tony Vaughan is still nursing a knee injury and misses out for the second successive weekend but Ian Woan has shaken off a thigh strain and will be among the substitutes.

Nigel Linked Again: Former Forest star Nigel Clough is again being linked with the vacant managerial post at Chesterfield.

Clough is currently in charge of non-league Burton Albion, but has been strongly linked with succeeding John Duncan at Saltergate, who was sacked last Tuesday morning.

As well as Clough, former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Wilson has also been linked with the Chesterfield job, with the Spireites heading for relegation to the Nationwide Third Division.

April 12 2000

Vaughan To Miss Out: It looks extremely likely that Tony Vaughan looks will be forced to miss Saturday's trip to Birmingham with the knee injury that caused him to miss the draw with Charlton.

April 9 2000

Talia Linked: Forest are being linked with a summer move for Swindon goalkeeper Frank Talia as a replacement for Mark Crossley. Other links in today's papers include Watford's Peter Kennedy and Fulham's Paul Peschisolido.

April 8 2000

Today's Team News: Tony Vaughan looks likely to miss this afternoons game against Charlton. The defender picked up a knock in training and has been declared as doubtful for the game.

Jim Brennan looks the most likely to benefit from Vaughan's injury and could be called to first team after starting last week's game on the bench.

There are no new injury worries for Platt and with the exception of Vaughan, Forest's line-up should be the same as last week.

April 5 2000

No News On Saudi: There is still no news on the paperwork from the Saudi authorities to allow Sami Al-Jaber to play in the reserve game against Crystal Palace tonight. With the Saudi star due to return to his club, Al Helal, tomorrow it looks like any chance to prove himself to Platt will have to have been taken on the training ground.

April 4 2000

Bee's Midfielder Targeted: David Platt is being linked with a possible summer move for Brentford's midfield star Martin Rowlands. The speculation has come about because David Platt has been seen at Brentford's last three games.

Brentford's owner-manager, Ron Noades is known to be keen to hang on to the young star and this could push the price up should Platt make a bid.

Wimbledon have also been watching the midfielder and the competition could see Noades looking for a fee of around £3 million.

Trialist Doubtful Again: Forest are still struggling to sort out the necessary paperwork that will allow Saudi star Sami Al-Jaber to play for Forest in Wednesday's reserve clash with Crystal Palace.

David Platt has received clearance from his team, Al Helal Sports Club, but have yet to receive the correct documentation from the Saudi Soccer Federation.

The 27-year-old is still due to return to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, and Forest are keen to get a look at him in action before he does. It seems that the red tape involved may prevent this though. If they do receive clearance Platt could still be thwarted by the weather as the clash is currently in doubt due to the heavy rain and snow.

April 1 2000

John To Start: Stern John is expected to start this afternoons game against Crewe. The striker has made an almost miraculous recovery from knee ligament damage and has come off the bench in Forest's last two games.

Riccy Scimica and Tony Vaughan are also likely to be available for selection this afternoon after both recovering from injury. They are most likely to start the game on the bench as Platt is expecting to start with the same defence that has seen them lose to Blackburn last week.

John Terry could also be available after recovering from a calf injury he picked up in training.