Nottingham Forest suffer huge injury blow as new signing Omar Richards suffers suspected leg fracture in pre-season
STEVE COOPER has ruled out summer signing Omar Richards for the start of the season.
There are fears Nottingham Forest’s new £8.5million arrival from Bayern Munich has suffered a hairline fracture.
But Forest boss Cooper stressed: “He’s not broken his leg.”
He added: “He has picked up an injury, and we’re still getting to the bottom of it.
“It’s not going to be a few days, but it’s not months and months.”
London-born Richards, who made 17 appearances for Bayern last season, signed a four-year deal but has yet to make his Forest debut after suffering the knock in training.
He is now one of TEN summer signings after Cooper added Huddersfield pair Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien to his new-look squad.
Cooper can now turn his attention to persuading Jesse Lingard to complete an entire team of new signings.
Forest are in advanced talks with the out-of-contract former Manchester United midfielder and now look set to pip West Ham to his signature.
Lingard, 29, has been holding out for £180,000 a week and it is understood Forest have made a very lucrative offer.
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The England star will have seen Forest beat German side Hertha Berlin 3-1 last night.
Lyle Taylor bagged a double before Derry Scherhant clawed one back.
Lukas Ullrich’s own goal wrapped it up.
Toffolo was handed a quick debut after agreeing to reduce his personal terms in a £10m double deal with O’Brien.
Left-back Toffolo, 26, said: “I’m someone that will fight for the badge and for the team every single minute. I can’t wait to get started.”