Ndoye, Hudson-Odoi and Wood: Latest Nottingham Forest injury news and expected return dates ahead of West Ham

Nottingham Forest travel to relegation rivals West Ham United on Tuesday night and will know that this is arguably up there as their most important match of the season against the side directly below them in the table.

Forest and the Hammers are separated by the dotted line and amidst the strong recent form and unbeaten run of Leeds United, it is possible that at least one of these two sides will be competing in the Championship next season. Both may be forced into action in the January transfer window.

Sean Dyche’s side lost 3-1 away at high-flying Aston Villa on Saturday in what was hardly an embarrassing result or performance, but Forest will know their previous performances are immaterial if they are beaten by the Hammers, who would move to just a single point behind them with victory.

The Tricky Trees will hope to have key players back in action for their visit to the London Stadium, having missed several stars at the weekend.

Will Ndoye and Hudson-Odoi be available to face West Ham?

Nottingham Forest will make a late call on the fitness of winger Callum Hudson-Odoi ahead of the trip to West Ham, with the 25-year-old having missed out with a knock last time out.

Dyche said in his press conference: “We'll have to wait and see. He didn't make Saturday, quite obviously, and he couldn't make it on the bench, so we'll have to wait and see. It was a sore Achilles.”

Hudson-Odoi has featured 18 times in the league from the left-wing this season, scoring three goals, while his partner on the opposite flank Dan Ndoye has also spent some time out with a calf injury. The Switzerland international has been out for Forest’s last four matches, all defeats, and will hope to give his side a boost with a return to action against West Ham.

Manager Dyche said on New Year’s Day: “Dan has a minor calf injury. It will be touch and go for him this weekend [against Villa], but hopefully he will return after that.”

Brazilian goalkeeper John Victor is a fresh doubt for the trip to east London, having picked up a suspected calf injury during the defeat at Villa Park, sustained while coming out into no man’s land to concede a poor goal to John McGinn. The 29-year-old left the field in tears after the howler and is expected to lose his place to Matz Sels, though the extent of Victor’s injury is not yet known.

When will Chris Wood be back for Forest?

Chris Wood has not featured for Forest since October 18th due to a knee injury and his spell on the side-lines is expected to continue for a while longer, as the 34-year-old striker underwent knee surgery in late December in order to rectify the issue. His exact return timeline is not yet known.

"The Christmas I didn't expect, you can never know what football throws at you," Wood wrote on Instagram after completing the surgery. “From the highs of last season to now the battles and the lows personally of this season. You have to be ready for anything. Truly gutting and frustrating that I'll be on the side-line for another period of time. It's what's needed to come back stronger and better to help my team-mates do the job needed in the Premier League and in Europe."

Club captain Ryan Yates remains out with a thigh injury, while absentees Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are away at AFCON. Arnaud Kalimuendo may be included in Dyche’s matchday squad despite his pending move to Eintracht Frankfurt, amidst reports by Sport Witness which relay claims by BILD that Forest have delayed his move to Germany so that the forward is available for the six-pointer.