March 29 2000

Defenders On The Mend: Tony Vaughan and Riccardo Scimeca look like they are winning their battles to be fit for Saturday's crunch six-pointer against Crewe.

Unfortunately though, Chelsea loan star John Terry looks to be out of the running for a start. The 19-year-old picked up a calf muscle injury in his first training session for the club and is now struggling to shake it off, with the odds of him being able to make his debut going from bad to worse.

Vaughan is poised to resume full training after shaking off the knee injury that he picked up in his last game for Forest whilst on-loan from Man City. Riccy Scimeca is back in training after missing three matches with an ankle problem and he is pushing for a return to David Platt's plans for the game against Crewe.

March 26 2000

Vaughan On Comeback Trail: Tony Vaughan is working hard to get himself fit after signing for Forest last Thursday.

Vaughan picked up the knee injury at Portsmouth, his last game for Forest before returning to Manchester City when his loan ran out.

Forest completed the signing last Thursday after finally agreeing a fee with City, however, Vaughan was still injured so took no part in the debacle at the City Ground on Saturday. He is, however, making good progress in his recovery and should be fit for Saturday's visit to Crewe.

March 22 2000

John Set For Reserves: After coming on for 17 minutes in last night's game against Huddersfield, Stern John is now rumoured to be ready to take part in tonight's reserve team fixture against Coventry as he bids to get fit for the weekend.

Let's just hope he's not overdoing it after three months out.

March 21 2000

Tonight's Line Up: The line up for tonight's game against Huddersfield sees more enforced changes to the team. Ignoring the earlier rumours about Stern John, Forest should start with Marlon Harewood and Dougie Freedman up front as Jack Lester is out with a groin injury.

Defensive changes also look to be on the cards as well, with Jon Olav Hjelde back to fitness he will probably slot in to partner Colin Calderwood.

Stern Test Tonight: According to both the radio and the Internet, Stern John is expected to take a place on the bench tonight as Forest take on Huddersfield at the McAlpine Stadium.

Yesterday it was reported that John had returned training after recovering from knee ligament damage. However, having been sidelined for nearly three months, and only returning to training yesterday, it seems somewhat premature for the Trinidad & Tobago striker to be making his return yet. We'll just have to wait and see!

Vaughan Deal Falls Through: Reports are reaching us that the Tony Vaughan deal has hit snags over the asking price and talks have collapsed. However, the source says that Platt is still hopeful of resurrecting the deal and finalising Vaughan's move to the City Ground before the end of Thursday, transfer deadline day.

March 20 2000

John Returns: Stern John is expected to return to training later today after making an amazing recovery from knee ligament damage.

The striker was originally injured against West Brom early in the new year and was not expected to appear for Forest again this season. However, it now looks like the striker could be appearing as soon as April if his recovery continues at it's present rate.

Vaughan Deal Still Alive: David Platt is making a last ditch attempt to sign Tony Vaughan before Thursday's transfer deadline.

Vaughan returned to Maine Road after the Portsmouth game as his one months loan had finished. Vaughan went back to Manchester nursing a knee injury he picked up in the Portsmouth game, but it is believed that this is not the reason the deal to make his move permanent failed. It is rumoured that Forest and City could not agree a fee for the 24 year old defender.

Despite these rumours of disagreement over the price for Vaughan and the fact that he is still nursing his knee injury Platt is now believed to be ready to make a move for Vaughan and meet City's asking price of �350,000.

March 17 2000

Squad News For Saturday: As everyone is now aware the central defence has been decimated by injury these last few weeks, as a consequence Platt will have to make some changes to the squad. Colin Calderwood is expected to make his Forest debut and Jon Olav Hjelde may be forced back after recovering from injury. Otherwise the team should be pretty much the same as it has been in recent weeks.

Tranmere also find themselves with some forced changes for tomorrow. Clint Hill starts his four match suspension for being sent off during the Worthington Cup Final and David Challinor, the long throw specialist, is suspended for racking up 10 yellow cards. Striker Andy Parkinson is rated doubtful after picking up an ankle injury against Birmingham and will undergo a late fitness test tomorrow.

March 16 2000

Traore Linked: It's a busy day on the gossip front for Forest. Latest rumours have it that David Platt is attempting to sign Liverpool's young defender Djimi Traore on loan in time for this weekend's game against Tranmere.

Platt, despite yesterday's signing of Colin Calderwood, is still concerned that he has six defensive players out injured, leaving him with only two fit central defenders.

Traore has only made one first team appearance for Liverpool this season, but Gerard Houllier rates the 20 year old as a very bright prospect. The young defender is currently being kept out of the Liverpool side by the more experienced players in the squad and because of this it is thought that Houllier is keen to see the youngster go out on loan to gain first team experience.

Bartman Off: Not only are the papers linking Forest with an unlikely move for Lee Sharpe, they are also linking Chris Bart-Williams with a possible �2 million move to either Spurs or Everton.

With Bart's performances since he came back from injury being one of the highlights of watching Forest this also seems to be very unlikely.

Sharpe Is Target: Bradford City's Lee Sharpe is on his way to Forest. At least if you believe everything you read in the Sun that is.

The ex-Manchester United and Leeds winger is unhappy at Bradford after moving there from Leeds about a year ago for �200,000. He has failed to make any real impact at Bradford and has not started a game for the Bantams since January.

The only real thing that could link Sharpe with a move to the City Ground is the fact that Platt signed him on loan from Leeds while he was manager at Sampdoria. The papers seem to be putting this together with the fact the he is unhappy at Bradford and drawing their own conclusions.

More realistically, Sharpe is also being linked with a possible move to Huddersfield, where his old team mate Steve Bruce is in charge. This move would probably make much more sense than a move to Forest, so expect to see him wearing the Garibaldi before transfer deadline day.

March 15 2000

More Signings Due: It is being reported that Colin Calderwood will not be the only new face in the Forest starting line up this weekend.

David Platt is reportedly trying hard to complete a deal, which will add another experienced central defender to the squad in time for Tranmere Rovers visit to the City Ground on Saturday.

The club are refusing to reveal any details about who the mystery signing is, but with six defenders out injured and the club slipping back towards the relegation zone then something has to be done quickly.

March 14 2000

Calderwood On His Way: There are rumours late this morning that Colin Calderwood is on his way to the City Ground to undergo a medical. Platt was hoping to wait until the summer when Calderwood becomes a free agent under the Bosman ruling, but the current defensive crisis has made Platt bring his plans forward. If Calderwood passes his medical then Forest will be expected to pay a nominal fee to Aston Villa for the services of the 35 year old veteran defender.

March 10 2000

Platt Moves For Vaughan: David Platt is expected to make his move for the permanent signing of Tony Vaughan over the weekend.

Vaughan has been at Forest on a month's loan which has seen him involved in Forest's three wins and the controversial loss at Wolves. The loan deal ends tomorrow when Forest take on Portsmouth.

Vaughan has definitely made an impact in the defence and Platt is keen to keep the player at the City Ground, with Manchester City looking to get around �300,000 for the man they paid �1.3 million for a couple of seasons ago.

March 5 2000

Today's Contender Is: In the current daily round of who are Forest signing next, today's contender is Macclesfield Town's 24 year old striker, Richard Barker.

The young striker is attracting the attention of First Division clubs, with Stockport and Norwich both also linked to the �350,000 rated star.

March 4 2000

Coventry Duo Linked: Inevitably, as transfer deadline day draws ever nearer, Forest are being linked with more and more transfer targets. I suppose if we are linked with enough then one of them will probably turn out to be true.

This time we are being linked with Coventry City's Paul Williams and Gary Breen, both centre halves with good experience. Though with the possible signing of on-loan defender Tony Vaughan likely to happen this week, this one may not get off the ground.

March 3 2000

Miller is Target: David Platt is reported to be chasing Hartlepool's young star Tommy Miller. Platt has hinted that he is just the sort of player he is looking to bring to Forest during the summer.

Miller has made a huge impact at Hartlepool this season, scoring 14 goals. The bad news for Forest is that the player has started to attract the interest of Premiership clubs including Newcastle, Leeds and Chelsea.

Platt Weighs Up Loan Striker: David Platt is reported to be looking at the possibility of taking Blackburn Rovers young striker, James Thomas, on loan.

Thomas, a 21 year old Welsh international has yet to break through into the first team at Blackburn, however, he has played first team football for West Brom.

Lurch To Get New Contract: Dave Beasant looks to be ready to to sign a new contract with Forest. Like Mark Crossley and youngster, Mark Goodlad, Lurch would become a free agent in the summer when his current contract expires. However, with the club looking to dispose of Mark Crossley they need to move fast if they are to keep hold of one of the only two experienced 'keepers they have on their books at the moment.

At the moment there is no indication as to whether or not Mark Goodlad will be offered a contract as well.

March 2 2000

Platt Confirms Calderwood Interest: David Platt has confirmed he is interested in signing Aston Villa defender Colin Calderwood.

Platt travelled to see the 34 year-old in action for Villa's reserves last night. He confirmed that he did try and sign Calderwood at the beginning of the season. Platt said: "I can confirm that we have been looking at Colin Calderwood for some time. We tried to sign him earlier this season but Aston Villa wouldn't let him go. However, I am confident that we can sign him before the start of next season."

Calderwood will be available on a Bosman free at the end of the season, but Villa may be persuaded to let him go earlier if John Gregory is successful in his own search for a new central defender.

However, the one thing that may cause Forest a problem in signing him is Portsmouth, who have already held talks with the player.

Fulham Watch Rogers: Alan Rogers is reported to be the subject of great interest from the men at Craven Cottage.

If the rumours are to be believed then Fulham are set to make a �2 million bid for the talented left-back/wing-back. Rogers is still only 22, and left footed, the key to Fulham's interest. Fulham have had the player watched for the last three games and are said to be preparing a bid for him.

March 1 2000

Forest Target Calderwood: Rumours are reaching us that Forest are chasing Aston Villa defender Colin Calderwood.

David Platt is expected to go and watch the defender in action tonight for Aston Villa reserves.

Platt originally tried to sign the Scottish defender at the beginning of the season, but Villa were not interested in selling at the time. However, Calderwood's contract runs out at the end of the season and he will be available on a free transfer.

Merino Off: Earlier reports said Forest's Spanish midfielder, Carlos Merino, was off to join his home town club Athletico Bilbao.

Reports are now coming in that this is indeed the case, and Merino is taking full advantage of the Bosman ruling to move back to his home town.

Forest are believed to have offered the talented midfielder a new two year contract, but the lure of going home, and playing more games is too strong for the youngster.

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