Another chance

Dexter Blackstock might have missed out on a friendly against Mansfield yesterday but he will soon get another chance as Forest have arranged another friendly next week.

The striker missed this game due to the birth of a newborn and Steve Cotterill, as he told the official website, did feel for him but he - and others - will get another chance soon enough: 'I felt for Dexter on Thursday because we set the game up with the injured players in mind and nobody was looking forward to playing more than him.

'He said to me that being out for so long he just wanted to get out there and play. But with him becoming a father while that game was going on, he obviously had to be elsewhere.

'I felt for Dexter but hopefully he'll get his chance sooner rather than later. The good thing is that he and most of the injured players are back with us - and that's given us a real boost.'

This week has been used as a 'fitness week' so everyone would have benefited, including Blackstock, and those that needed a game got one yesterday.

He wants more of the same next week, with that friendly scheduled, with attention returning to the game against Ipswich: 'to be honest we've used this week as a fitness week. It's worked really well because those players who needed a 'top up' have been able to get it and those who needed a game were able to play on Thursday.

'We are now looking forward to another clear week and focus our thoughts on preparing for the game against Ipswich Town.'

Paul Anderson, who managed 60-minutes, is likely to feature in this friendly as well as could Garath McCleary who is also returning from injury.

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