By Mark Smith

2nd Feb, 2020 | 11:00am

Sabri Lamouchi delivers key Notts Forest injury update ahead of Leeds clash

Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi is remaining hopeful over the fitness of midfielder Samba Sow ahead of their clash with Leeds United.

The Forest boss was speaking after their 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon, claiming the absence of the midfielder was not an excuse.

Lamouchi confirmed that Sow had a knee injury and that although it wasn’t serious, he couldn’t play to his full effect.

“He had a problem with his knee and we can’t play with players, not at 100 per cent,” he told the Nottingham Post.

“I don’t think it is serious. I hope it is not serious. I hope he will be ready for the next game.

“That (Sow’s absence) is not the reason we lost.”

Leeds will be without a key midfielder in Kalvin Phillips, who will serve the last of his three-game ban and Forest missing Sow could help even out the playing field at the City Ground.

Without Phillips, all physicality goes out of the window and that was evident in the 1-0 defeat against Wigan. Sam Morsy dominated the likes of Stuart Dallas quite easily in the middle of the park, as the Whites struggled to find their usual spaces in behind the opposing midfield.

Dallas was moved into midfield once again and only completed one tackle [WhoScored]. Compare that to Phillips, who averages 2.9 per game and you can see a clear difference.

Sow could have a field day if fully fit against the Whites, with his physicality enough to overpower Leeds.

In other Leeds United news, Sky Sports pundit has questioned the decision made by Bielsa not to utilise Whites ace v Wigan