Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest - As you were for Newcastle against Forest

Posted Thursday, December 29, 2016 by PA

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has no fresh injury concerns head of Friday night's Sky Bet Championship clash with Nottingham Forest.

Midfielder Jack Colback returned from a six-game lay off with a vision problem for the 1-0 Boxing Day home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday, and only full-back Jesus Gamez (collarbone) and winger Rolando Aarons (knee) remain on the long-term casualty list.

However, playmaker Jonjo Shelvey sits out the second leg of his five-match ban and Benitez must find a way of replacing his invention after a less than impressive display against Wednesday.

The Magpies will head into the fixture intent on revenge after losing 2-1 at Forest on December 2 in a game which saw Shelvey and full-back Paul Dummett wrongly sent off with both red cards later being rescinded on appeal.

Forest will be without the suspended Michael Mancienne for the trip to St James' Park.

The defender serves a one-game ban after being sent off in the closing stages of Boxing Day's 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield.

Midfielder Ben Osborn is a doubt after coming off with an injury at the John Smith's Stadium, while defender Joe Worrall could miss out with a hip problem.

Pajtim Kasami should be fit to return after missing out against the Terriers due to illness but Henri Lansbury (hamstring), Chris Cohen (groin), Daniel Pinillos (knee), Danny Fox (strain) and Armand Traore (knee) remain sidelined.