KRYSTIAN Pearce has not given up hope of a future at Notts County.

The 23-year-old defender only has a few months left on his contract – and has not played one game for the Magpies this season.

He has only started three league games since Keith Curle took charge almost 11 months ago and spent three months on loan at League Two Barnet this season, after being put on the transfer list last summer.

But he is back at Meadow Lane and determined to finally show Curle why he was once rated as one of the club's best young players.

"I'm fighting for a place now I'm back," he said. "I want to force my way into the team and help us win promotion – that is my aim.

"I have come back a lot fitter and stronger after playing a lot of games for Barnet.

"It has done me the world of good and I want to show the manager what I can do now.

"I've spoken to him since I've been back and he's told me the door is still open and there is still a chance for me here. So all I can do is fight hard to get into the team.

"I believe in my ability and I'm determined to prove I am as good as some people say.

"It's going to be a big challenge because we have some good defenders here, but I think I can play at this level and I want to push on even higher.

"It has been difficult to show him (Curle) what I can do so far because I was struggling with injuries when he came in and was playing in pain.

"I was also injured at the start of pre-season and then when I got fit I was sent out to Barnet.

"It's only now that I feel fully fit and ready to show him.

"It hurt being put on the transfer list; nobody likes to be told they're not wanted.

"But it has made me even more determined to prove myself to him."

NOTTINGHAM Forest will be under orders to secure the bragging rights for their fans at Derby this weekend – from both manager and owner of the club.

Alex McLeish and Fawaz Al Hasawi today spoke of the importance of beating their fierce rivals in the East Midlands derby at Pride Park.

Both men realise the importance of getting one over on the Rams, regardless of the need to keep their push for a top-six finish on track.

Derby have won the last three meetings between the two sides and Al Hasawi is keen to see that run brought to an end.

"What do I know about these games? I know that this is very important," said the Kuwaiti.

"I know they won in the first game this season, so we would like to pay them back for that.

"We want to win this game. I know it is important for the fans. I will be here for it and I hope we get the right result.

"I respect Derby as a team. If we lose, that is football.

"But I can promise that we are going to do everything in our power to win."

Forest's squad is currently hit with injuries to a few key players.

But Al Hasawi is hoping to see others step into the void, just as Radi Majewski did against Peterborough last weekend.

"We have four or five players who are perhaps out, including Andy Reid. But this is not an excuse," said Al Hasawi.

"We have a good squad and we are hoping for a good result.

"Radi played very well against Peterborough.

"We do not know who will be the best player on Saturday, but we hope there is somebody who can step up and win it for us."

McLeish knows a little about local derbies, having managed Rangers in Scotland and both Birmingham and Aston Villa in the West Midlands.

And he also knows what the result on Saturday will mean to both sets of fans.

"The derby games are fantastic and I know this one can be particularly feisty," said McLeish.

"I have been involved in a few that people say there is nothing like. I have experienced the Old Firm derby.

"But I know how important these derby games are. I know what it means to the fans, when it comes to the bragging rights and everything else.

"It would be an insult to say that the Old Firm is the biggest derby in the world, because every derby, to each club's respective fans, is the biggest to them. We know how important it is."

Khalid Al-Rashidi will become the first Kuwaiti to play professional football in England, after he was granted a work permit to join Nottingham Forest.

The 25-year-old, who has been capped more than 30 times for his country, will provide back up for Karl Darlow and for the 'experienced' keeper manager McLeish is still hopeful of signing before the end of the transfer window.

Nathan Tyson may not face his former club on Saturday, with the Derby striker understood to be close to joining Millwall on loan.

THE senior team's cup exploits may be over for this season, but Nottingham Forest's next generation continue to progress in the FA Youth Cup.

Gary Brazil's side will now face Huddersfield in the fifth round after claiming a 2-1 win over Rochdale in freezing, foggy conditions at the City Ground.

The Reds did not have it all their own way against a Dale side that made them work hard.

Goals from Wilfried Gnahore and Aristote Kamaneno, along with some good character, were enough to secure victory – but had the visitors made more of some good chances, the result might have been different.

There was a disjointed start to the game as Forest stormed into a 1-0 lead within a minute, but then found themselves penned inside their own half.

The opener came as Derrick Otim powered down the right before firing a low cross into the centre.

With the Rochdale defence struggling to clear, the ball was bundled over the line at close range, Gnahore appearing to get the vital touch.

But then, for ten minutes, it was Rochdale who piled on the pressure.

In fairness to Forest, their defence held firm, with only one real chance of note carved out by the visitors during their period of domination, a header from Joel Logan that the striker aimed straight at keeper Jordan Smith.

The Reds were beginning to get their passing game going on a pitch that was looking threadbare in patches. But they were still struggling to carve out further opportunities.

And it was Rochdale who should have pulled level when a driven shot from Logan was charged down by the keeper, but fell nicely for Daniel Whitehall, who fired wide of the target.

Jack Blake, a terrier like figure in Forest's midfield, was a little fortunate to escape a booking when he slid in with a rugged challenge on Logan.

An outstanding pass from Kieran Wallace looked to have sent Otim racing clear, but keeper Aaron Ashley saved bravely at his feet.

The Rochdale man was alert again after an angled run from full back Eurico Sebastiao took him sprinting into the box, where Ashley again made a well-timed claim at the player's feet.

Logan was the main threat for Rochdale and, after stealing possession from Sebastiao, he cut into the box and hit a shot that did not bend far wide.

Wallace was playing well for Forest and, following a well-composed attack, he beat two players on the edge of the box but shot narrowly over.

In the 35th minute, Forest doubled their advantage following a pacy counter attack. Gnahore carried the ball powerfully out of his own half before slotting Kamaneno through the offside trap. The winger made no mistake, showing good composure to beat the advancing keeper at his near post.

The goal injected Forest with fresh confidence and after a good break and shot from the rampant Gnahore was saved by Ashley, Blake lifted the rebound over the bar at full stretch.

The second half began with another bright spell from Rochdale, but Kamaneno was lucky to escape with a yellow card after appearing to swing a punch at D'Arcy O'Connor.

Wallace was then unfortunate not to carve out a goal with a brilliant turn inside the box, followed by a driven cross-shot that was cleared off the line.

The visitors threw on an extra forward and were rewarded with 12 minutes to go when Camps bundled home after Forest had twice cleared off the line.

Logan also had a late effort beaten out, but Forest were able to doggedly hang on for the win.

Forest: Smith, Sebastiao (Thomas 67), Fenton, Blake, Gorman, Ackroyd, Hollingsworth, Wallace, Otim (Ferrier 73), Gnahore, Kamaneno. Subs: Durrant, Mulraney, Palmer-Samuels.

Rochdale: Ashley, Antoine-Clarke, Tanser, Allen, O'Connor, Hill (Masirika 76), Camps, Cannon, Whitehall, Logan, Martin (Horan 85). Subs: Musalga, Wilkinson, Bell.

SO Gordan Strachan, a man who had been out of football since October 2010, has been handed a route back into the game.

Sacked from his last job, at Middlesbrough, Strachan subsequently found himself in the wilderness.

A frosty relationship with the media will not have helped his cause, with many unlikely to have championed him for jobs.

But he remains a popular choice, among fans at least, as the new manager of Scotland.

His appointment, however, also got me thinking... about another man who must have fancied his chances of landing the role.

How many jobs, in the Championship, in Scotland and even in League One have been available since Billy Davies left Nottingham Forest? There must have been dozens.

For a short period of time, it is acceptable for your representatives to make noises about 'waiting for the right opportunity' or 'needing a break from the game'.

But it has now been 18 months since Davies' City Ground tenure came to an end.

Given his record, his successes at Preston, Derby and Forest, you would think he would be on many a chairman's list of candidates when jobs come up.

There are few men with a better record, in particular, at Championship level.

But, asides from a vague rumour linking him with the Blackburn job a few weeks ago, there has been literally nothing; no suggestion that he is close to a return.

Palace, Burnley, Blackpool, Bolton, Wolves, Barnsley and Bristol City, among others, have all had a change of management in recent times.

But none of those clubs plumped for Davies.

And now he has also been overlooked – or at least not seemingly considered – for a Scotland job that he would surely have relished.

Davies was always a good manager. He is a man that players seem to respond to.

But he also comes with a lot of baggage. Perhaps now that is starting to catch up with him.

Clubs no longer see a man who brought success to three clubs, but a man who made a circus of Forest's play-off clash with Swansea, by creating a side show out of his row with the club hierarchy and by issuing journalists with a list of questions they could and couldn't ask prior to the games.

The final season of his tenure at Forest was almost as memorable for his sniping with the board as it was for what was achieved on the pitch.

If you picked up a phone and asked those who had been in charge at Preston, Derby and Forest what Davies was like, what would they say?

Yes, they would doubtless tell you that he was a good manager. But the rest of those conversations would probably centre around the renowned baggage he brought with him.

IT'S not often that Johnny Pusztai gets asked about horse.

It's even less often he gets asked how he would go about butchering one.

"I don't imagine it would be too difficult – it's just like other animals that we deal with on a day-to-day basis", said the award-winning owner of butcher JT Beedham and Sons, in Sherwood.

"Horse" is the word on everyone's lips at the moment after an investigation found traces of the meat in supermarket burgers.

But Mr Pusztai believes horse could soon be hitting our plates.

He said: "We've already seen places selling goat, and horse isn't all that bad really – it's a cheaper meat and I can't see why people won't be eating it in years to come.

"Only a handful of people have come in asking for horse before, but if more people did, then we would have to look at learning how to do it properly.

"You would still get the same kind of cuts that you get with pork and beef – sirloin, fillet, topside and the rest.

"I have eaten horse before and it's not all that bad – I mean, people have this idea that horse isn't good to eat and that it's wrong, but if you eat venison, you're eating Bambi. Is horse really any worse?"

An investigation by the Food Standards Agency is to be launched into how horse meat was found in beefburgers.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "People in our country will have been very concerned to read that while they thought they were buying beef burgers, they were buying something that had horse meat in it."

Jemma Cox, 29, of Lady Bay, has owned a Norwegian Fjord horse called Oslo for 14 years.

She said: "I wouldn't choose to eat horse but I do think that people should be able to know what goes in burgers. I was shocked when I heard the news but only because you didn't think burgers would contain horse. "

Jennifer Robinson, 25, of Edwalton, said she was upset when she heard the news.

Mrs Robinson, who owns ten-year-old horse Buffy and its foal Phoebe, said: "I just think it's horrible. I love horses and, as a horse owner, I would not choose to eat horse meat.

"So if I had eaten a burger I thought was beef but was actually horse, I would be upset."

Melissa Gueneau, 25, is originally from Clairac in south-west France but now lives in Nottingham.

She said: "People's reaction to having horse meat in their burgers isn't surprising given the context that they were expecting it not to be there.

"But what is surprising is that people are that adverse to eating horse meat.

"It's true that French people are more adventurous when it comes to meat and horse is available in supermarkets, but I have only eaten horse once.

"It was like other red meat really, just a bit more tough.

"For most people, a horse is no more special than other animals that people eat, so I suppose I am surprised people are so shocked at the fact they may have eaten horse."

The food company that supplied the food to British and Irish supermarkets, ABP Foods, has apologised.

"We are shocked by the result of these tests and are at a loss to explain why one test showed 29 per cent equine DNA, " it said."ABP Food Group companies have never knowingly bought, handled or supplied equine meat products and we acknowledge the understandable concern created as a result of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's DNA frozen beef burger test results.

"This issue only affects frozen beef burgers supplied by Silvercrest Foods and Dalepak Hambleton, and while there is no food safety issue, a full withdrawal was implemented."

What's your view of eating horse? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

MALCOLM Stokes, 46, of Haywood Court, Sneinton, was given a suspended prison sentence for drink-driving. He pleaded guilty to being over the limit in Bath Street, Sneinton, on December 15. Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard he had 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. He was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, because the offence was considered to be so serious. Stokes admitted he had no insurance or licence for the Nissan Juke he was driving at the time. The court heard he risked the lives of others and took risks. He suffered with depression and anxiety and found it difficult to control his emotions, the court heard. As well as the suspended sentence, he is required to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and was banned from driving for five years. No separate penalties were imposed for having no insurance or a licence.

JONATHAN Sargent, 25, of Fairview Road, Woodthorpe, admitted driving a Ford Focus in Bypass Road, Gunthorpe, on May 20 without due care and attention. He was fined £200, had his driving licence endorsed with six penalty points and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

ARTURS Kobinecs, 40, of Chilwell Road, Beeston, is due to have a trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 6. He denies the theft of a joint of pork worth £3.69 from Lidl supermarket, in Chilwell, on November 12. He also denies assault in Chilwell on the same date. He is on conditional bail until his trial.

IMRAN Amin, 37, of Balfour Road, Lenton, has been fined £100 for using threatening behaviour in Nottingham on New Year's Day. After pleading guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was handed the fine and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

CRAIG Blower, 31, of Houghton Road, Sneinton, was conditionally discharged for six months for being drunk and disorderly in Sneinton on New Year's Day. Magistrates in Nottingham took into account his guilty plea. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £40.

WILLIAM Edgar, 40, of Hartley Road, Radford, was fined £150 for using threatening behaviour on New Year's Day in Nottingham. After he entered a guilty plea at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was ordered to pay the fine, a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

STEVEN Pilkington, 24, of Bramley Close, Southwell, has been sentenced for drink-driving on New Year's Day. He pleaded guilty to being over the limit in a Citroen Picasso in Bramley Close, Southwell. He had 62 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 35. He was fined £200, disqualified for 17 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

LAON Rubie, 25, of Pedmore Valley, Bestwood Park, will have a trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on February 22. He denies assaulting a female in Sherwood on September 30. He is on conditional bail.

A MAN has been accused of stealing Christmas presents from a house in Nottingham. Carl Thomas, 45, of Cedar Road, Forest Fields, is charged with theft of the presents and a Dell laptop on December 21. He is further charged with possessing cannabis on January 10 this year. Magistrates in Nottingham sent his case to be heard at Nottingham Crown Court on January 25. He is in custody.

SHABAZ Ali, 23, of Foxhall Road, Forest Fields, is due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court via video link on January 25. He is charged with possessing heroin with intent to supply and possessing cannabis, crack cocaine and ketamine, a horse tranquiliser, on January 9. He is remanded in custody.

SHAZADAli, 25, of Foxhall Road, Forest Fields, is accused of possessing drugs with intent to supply on January 9. He is due to appear via video link at Nottingham Crown Court on January 25. He is charged with possessing heroin, ketamine and crack cocaine with intent to supply. He has been remanded in custody.

JOHN Wilson, 53, of Abbot Road, Ilkeston, will have a trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 11. He is charged with failing to give information to police about the identity of the driver of a Citroen in Arnold on or about October 20, 2011. The driver was allegedly guilty of a road traffic offence. He entered a not guilty plea at court on October 17.

NISAR Nazir , 18, of Sneinton Boulevard, Sneinton, pleaded guilty to assault in Sneinton last November. Magistrates in Nottingham will sentence him on February 6. He is on unconditional bail.

GRAHAM Stephenson, 49, of Bannerman Road, Bulwell, denies assault in Bulwell on September 8. His trial is on January 31 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. He is on conditional bail.

JOHN Winter, 19, of Montgomery Road, Newark, is charged with assault in Newark on New Year's Day. His trial will be at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on March 12 at 2pm. He is on conditional bail.

A THUG who attacked a man and two women in Nottingham's Rock City has been ordered to pay them £1,500 compensation.

Ashley Hill punched Jake Jones in the throat, put him in a headlock and bit his thumb.

He then punched Mr Jones's partner, Victoria Bramley, and hit their mutual friend, Kate Smalley, when they intervened.

The three victims had been together in the music venue, in Talbot Street, when the attack happened in the early hours of February 25.

Hill lashed out when he went to investigate an apparent disagreement between Mr Jones and another man, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

He left Mr Jones with various cuts and Ms Bramley with a lump on her forehead.

Ms Smalley had bruising under her right eye. She also suffered a fractured wrist after bending her wrist back when she fell to the floor. Hill, 23, of Harwill Crescent, Aspley, broke his arm when someone stamped on it on the floor.

Recorder Shaun Smith QC, who sentenced him, said his behaviour had been "disgraceful".

"Goodness knows what you were doing getting involved in this that night. You obviously had too much to drink."

He said he had decided that Hill should be the one who paid, compensating each victim to the tune of £500.

Hill agreed it had been a very expensive night for him at Rock City – a club the judge admitted he sometimes visited. "The next time, make sure it costs you a few drinks and the price of getting into Rock City," he said. Hill was given a three-month tagged curfew, to stay in between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

He was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work during the course of a community order.

He admitted assault causing actual bodily harm to Mr Jones and Ms Smalley and common assault on Ms Bramley.

Kevin Waddingham said, in mitigation, that Hill was in full-time employment.

"Hill had a broken arm. His arm was stamped on before he got up off the floor," he said.

"Bizarrely, the person least assaulted but the worst injured was Miss Smalley, who ended up with a fractured wrist."

A MAN who admitted causing a crash which killed two people has been jailed for 21 months.

Craig Simpson, 42, of Hume Drive, Uddington, Glasgow, was travelling at 80mph along the A6097 near Epperstone, at around 8pm on August 26, 2011, when he lost control of his Saab convertible. The speed limit on the road is 50mph.

His car collided with a Nissan Qashqai, which contained a family of five travelling home to Cawston, Rugby, from a holiday at Center Parcs.

The father of the family, Mark Gallagher, 43, who was driving the Nissan, was killed.

His wife, Sue, was seriously injured and spent almost three months in hospital.

Their three children suffered minor injuries, which required treatment at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre.

The Gallagher family solicitor, Rebecca Hearsey, said: "Mark's entire family has been left completely devastated by his tragic and untimely death.

"They remain extremely saddened that a combination of speed and careless driving on the part of the defendant were responsible for this completely avoidable collision which took Mark's life.

"Although the defendant has received a custodial sentence today, Mark's family feel that they have been handed what is, in effect, a life sentence as they try to come to terms with the devastating loss of a much loved husband and father."

Simpson's partner, Louise Hunt, 36, of Woodside Gardens, Ravenshead, was in the front passenger seat of the Saab. She also died at the scene.

The Hunt family said: "Louise was a loving and caring daughter whose family were very important to her.

"She always had a smile on her face and a hand to lend. She is very sadly missed and always in our thoughts.

"We would like to say a huge thanks to the emergency services and the people on the scene of the accident who so bravely rescued Louise from the burning car.

"In the midst of this terrible tragedy their inspirational courage has shone through, providing a measure of comfort and consolation to everyone who knew Louise, and comfort to the family."

Simpson, formerly of Ravenshead, who has no recollection of the incident due to injuries he sustained in the crash, admitted two charges of causing death by careless driving at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, November 29, 2012.

He was sentenced to 21 months and disqualified from driving for four years.

Judge Michael Stokes QC said: "Numerous though these cases are, people don't seem to listen that driving like this can have devastating consequences.

"There was no need for this to happen at all, if people would not drive in this stupid way on our roads."

WHEN police called at the family home of a Nottingham taxi driver he was stunned to be told be was being arrested for raping a woman in 2003.

That day – October 6, 2011 – remains etched on his mind as it marked the beginning a nine-month battle to clear his name for a crime he did not commit.

The man, 39, who asked not to be named, had been living with his wife and four children, including newborn twins, on the Bestwood Estate and working hard for a Bulwell-based taxi company.

This month his accuser, Gaynor Cooke, was jailed for perverting the course of justice, but her victim has told the Post of the high price he has paid for her lies

The nightmare began when a DNA sample he gave to police after a passenger smashed up the stereo in his taxi was matched to one taken from a woman who claimed she had been attacked years before.

Back in 2003, Gaynor Cooke alleged she was violently raped in a taxi driver's front passenger seat and, as well as a 18-page statement on her "ordeal", DNA was taken.

There was no match at the time but that changed after the incident with the stereo in January 2011.

In October that year detectives came to the taxi driver's door, told him about the rape claim, and took him away in a police van.

In the months that followed, Nottingham City Council suspended his taxi licence and he had to rely on financial help from his sister to pay his mortgage and claim Jobseeker's Allowance.

"My two little babies had just been born," he said in a voice breaking with emotion.

"I couldn't even cuddle them because I'd lost confidence. I lost everything.

"I told my wife everyday 'look I never did it' and she supported me and she said 'I know you didn't''."

In his desperation to clear his name, he turned detective to prove his innocence.

He compiled maps of the scene, in Ossington Close, Nottingham, where Cooke said she'd been raped, gathered alibis from his taxi firm boss and a bakery where he had worked a shift that night.

The name of the taxi firm Cooke said he worked for was wrong and he had not driven the make of car she claimed she was raped in, he said.

He admitted he had consensual sex with a woman at his home around that time – when he was a single man – but he had not sexually assaulted anyone.

The truth only came to light last year as the case was being prepared for trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

Detectives in Nottingham tracked down a St Ann's couple who Cooke had spoken to at the time of the rape allegation.

They revealed the story was a lie – told to cover up the fact she had been unfaithful to her partner, who had since died.

When police visited Cooke, 41, now of Pen Green Lane, Corby, Northamptonshire, and confronted her, she replied: "You've got me there."

The "rape" allegation against the 39-year-old driver was dropped. He said: "I could have been given five years in prison, lost my reputation, my family and my life."

This month Cooke pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, between October 25, 2003, and January 20, 2012, after making a false complaint of rape. Recorder Shaun Smith QC sent her to prison for two years and said: "You destroyed an innocent life."

THE game may be at Pride Park, rather than the City Ground – and is certainly miles away from the River Trent.

But Alex McLeish still does not want to see the red mist rolling in when Nottingham Forest travel to the home of fierce rivals Derby County tomorrow.

McLeish is a veteran of numerous local derbies, as a player and a manager, on both sides of the border.

And he smiles knowingly when he says he knows a thing or two about them.

But there is one age old adage he holds in as high regard as any other – and that is that you are always better off with 11 men on the pitch.

The most painful statistic for Forest fans, ahead of tomorrow's game, is that Derby have won the last four meetings between the two sides.

That, of course, was before McLeish's time; prior to his appointment following the Boxing Day dismissal of Sean O'Driscoll.

And there is another stat that is of more concern to the Scotsman – and that is that, in the last four East Midlands derbies, there has been a sending off.

"The last thing you want in any game is to lose resources by getting a man sent off," said McLeish.

"I have a pretty good record at the clubs I have been at, in terms of keeping players aware of discipline.

"Yes, I have had players sent off. But it can be a decision that you don't agree with. Referees have to make split-second decisions.

"Hopefully referees are getting a bit more help, in that respect. But we do not want anyone getting sent off in a stupid fashion, that is for sure.

"I will not tolerate that, not at all."

For McLeish, passion is acceptable. But there is a fine line that needs to be walked, if you want to secure the right result.

"I love derbies. I know that every fan on the planet believes that their derby is the most special one. Who am I to argue with that?" he said.

"I have been involved at the old firm derby and that is something special to experience. People don't realise what to expect until you have experienced it.

"Nobody can prepare you, until you have experienced it. You cannot explain it. It was the same with the derbies at Birmingham and Villa and I am sure it will be the same with this one.

"It is a feisty derby. We know the passion that comes with these matches. But we want to go there and come back with three points.

"They are a free-flowing, attack-minded side and it should be a good game. I am really looking forward to it. I cannot wait.

"The bragging rights are so important. Both myself and young Mr Clough will be very, very pleased – as an understatement – if either of us win it.

"We need to be passionate, but we also need to be clever.

"I have to get everything out of every single player in a Forest jersey for this game and in all games.

"I have never taken charge of an East Midlands derby before, so hopefully my record can be as good as it was in Glasgow, in Edinburgh and Birmingham."

Another man who is likely to play an integral role in tomorrow's clash, on his derby debut, is keeper Karl Darlow.

The 22-year-old will start the game at Pride Park after McLeish announced he would be first choice for the rest of the campaign – with new signing Khalid Al-Rashidi expected to push him once he has acclimatised to the English game.

McLeish has faith in Darlow's ability and, more tellingly, in his mental strength.

And he hopes Forest fans will show the same faith in him.

"Somewhere down the line, he might make a mistake. But we are not frightened about that and nor should he be," he said.

"He has good presence, he is a good kicker of the ball, he commands his box, he comes for crosses well and he is a good shot stopper.

"All the ingredients are there – he has all the makings of a fine young keeper. I like his confidence.

"You have to have belief in yourself. It is vital.

"I have seen so many good players who, when they make a mistake, let their heads go down.

"It can be a feature of their whole career and you want to give them a shake; to tell them to think how good they could be if they had the belief in themselves.

"I see him as number one for the rest of the season.

"The first time he loses a goal, people will say that it is because he is inexperienced. You can see that coming a mile off, people will say that when it happens.

"It might be the same kind of goal that an experienced keeper might lose. But I know the way the game works and the spin of something like that, when it happens.

"I am sure, in the games coming up, that people will try to test him – but only in the same way as we will try to test the opposition keeper.

"He is going to have a pretty quick education at a very high level. But we have great belief in him."

McLeish clearly has great faith in Darlow to keep his head under pressure tomorrow. If the rest of the Forest side can follow suit, then perhaps the only red mist at Pride Park will be voiced within the celebratory chants of the visiting fans.

ARTIST'S impressions have been revealed showing how Nottingham is to be transformed by the £570 million tram extension.

The multi-million pound project to build new lines for NET Phase Two to Chilwell via the Queen's Medical Centre and Beeston and Clifton via Wilford is now well under way.

NET Phase Two is the region's biggest construction project and builds on the success of the existing line from Hucknall to the city centre, which is used by around ten million passengers a year.

The five new images show how the new tram lines might look at key areas of the city from late 2014. They include:

The new viaduct and tram stop at the QMC, next to the hospital's South Block. Located on the Chilwell tram line, a series of structures will connect the line through the QMC, over the ring-road and into the University of Nottingham's main campus.

Trams passing over the widened grade-II listed Wilford Toll Bridge.

The tram stop on Southchurch Drive, in the centre of Clifton, with access to local medical, shopping and sports facilities.

The tram stop in Beeston town centre, which connects with the bus station and supports regeneration plans for the area.

The Chilwell Road tram stop in Beeston. This part of the route has led to criticism, as the road will be closed to traffic while the work is carried out.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for planning and transport at Nottingham City Council, said: "These new images illustrate the exciting benefits the extended tram network will bring."

The new tram lines are due to be completed by the end of 2014.

An earthquake has shaken the East Midlands.
Reports of the tremor have come from people across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.  
The British Geological Survery have confirmed a 2.9 magnitude earthquake near Ashby de la Zouch at 5,20am this morning. 
The news comes after two tremors were felt earlier in the week in Notts town, Ollerton.
A tremor of magnitude 1.4 on the Richter scale was first felt at around 4am on Saturday, January 12. A second quake of 1.8 magnitude was then recorded in the town on Monday, January 14 at 10.09am. Peter Turner of Cater Lane, Chillwell said: "I felt it at about 5.20am. "I thought it was snow falling off the roof. I woke up just beforehand and I heard a slight rumbling." The 72-year-old added: "My wife heard it too - she thought it was a tremor straight away."Did you feel the tremor? Let us know.
Email peter.blackburn@nottinghampostgroup, call 0115 905 1955 or tweet @petermblackburn

ALEX McLeish was today waiting to see if the shock changes to the Nottingham Forest hierarchy will influence his hopes off adding to his squad in January.

Manager McLeish was hoping a fresh bid for winger Chris Burke might persuade Birmingham to do business, possibly even before the Reds take on Derby tomorrow.

But with chief executive Mark Arthur and head of player recruitment Keith Burt both having been ushered out the exit, along with former chairman Frank Clark – who had an ambassadorial role – it remains unclear who would handle any negotiations for new signings.

Club owner and chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi had an integral role at Kuwaiti club Qadsia, where he was president, and may now take a more hands-on approach at Forest.

But his first task may be to put a more positive PR spin on some of the decisions, one of which saw Forest favourite, former player, manager and chairman Clark, informed by letter that he is being put on gardening leave – a legal side effect of which is that he is not allowed to go to the City Ground or talk to anyone at the club where he spent a large portion of his career.

"To say I am disappointed is an understatement," said Clark, who didn't want to comment further.

In the meantime, McLeish – who did not have any influence in the changes – must prepare his side for a difficult trip to Pride Park, amid a period of considerable unrest.

He will be hoping the changes do not impact on his efforts to add to his squad, with George Boyd also still a target, despite the fact Peterborough are understood to be taking a tough stance on a player who, like Burke, is out of contract in the summer.

"It is important, as a manager, to sign players who you know," said McLeish. "You might unearth the odd diamond that you do not know much about, from another country.

"They are the kind of player you might want to take on loan.

"But, when it comes to permanent additions, I would prefer to be looking at players who I know about.

"I still want to make signings and I do believe that, if I can get the three players I want, it will improve us and give us a chance when it comes to competing in the play-offs or, with a bit of luck, perhaps even doing better than that."

One position Forest are no longer looking to strengthen is that of goalkeeper. McLeish has seen enough of Karl Darlow to believe he deserves a chance to prove he is ready to be Forest's first-choice stopper.

"The only keeper coming in will be Khalid Al-Rashidi, the Kuwaiti player who we have successfully secured a work permit for," said McLeish. "He will be back up to Karl Darlow until as such time as he acclimatises.

"Karl is a good keeper. He is a confident keeper. He is at the stage of his life where he is capable.

"Blackburn have thrown in their young keeper, Jake Kean. He was released by Derby earlier in his career. But it shows how, with hard work and perseverance, you can bounce back. Karl does not need to bounce back, but he does have some catching up to do when it comes to experience at this level.

"But when is he going to get it, if we do not give him a chance?"

A NEW wave of snow and icy conditions is set to hit Notts today.

Up to 10cm of snow is forecast to fall in the area – setting the scene for a white and frosty weekend.

Temperatures plummeted to minus 6.8 degrees Celsius in the early hours of yesterday morning and today it is not set to get much warmer than minus 2 degrees.

A spokeswoman for the Met Office said: "I think you will find the snow starting in Nottingham towards lunch-time (today), it will carry on through much of the afternoon and you will be looking at 5cm. "As you go out of the city and into the hills you could be looking at 10cm."

The spokeswoman said there could be some snow showers tomorrow as well, but that the main snow fall was expected to be today. Sunday is expected to be dry but misty.

Some Notts schools have already announced they will be closed today, including Bracken Hill School, in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Newark Orchard School.

Most non-league football matches are expected to be called off this weekend , while the Notts County versus Sheffield Utd game at Meadow Lane on Saturday will depend on a pitch inspection at 1pm today.

That could also affect whether the Nottingham Rugby game against Llandovery goes ahead at Meadow Lane at 8pm tomorrow.

Mansfield Town's away trip to Stockport looks doubtful, but it looks likely that Forest's big match tomorrow against Derby County at Pride Park, will still go ahead.

Notts Police have issued a warning over driving conditions over the next few days.

A spokesman for the force said: "Our advice is to remain vigilant, exercise caution on the roads and pavements and be well-prepared for any journeys. Ensure you have an ice scraper, de-icer, warm clothes, blanket and shovel in your cars."

Notts County Council says extra staff are on standby over the next few days to make sure meals on wheels deliveries are still made. A spokesman said 4x4 vehicles were available if required.

Councillor Kevin Rostance said: "Many of our customers are housebound during snowy or icy weather so our delivery service is even more crucial at this time."

The county council says it will keep its parks open for as "long as conditions allow", which includes Bestwood Country Park, Sherwood Forest and Rufford Abbey.

Patrick Candler, head of parks at Notts County Council, said: "We are advising people to monitor weather reports and check relevant websites."

Nottingham City Council and Notts County Council will be out gritting the roads this weekend.

A spokesman from the city council said: "The council is determined to keep the city moving and has 3,100 tonnes of road salt and can call on another 14,000 tonnes if needed.

"Up to seven gritters are hitting the roads on days when the temperature falls below 0 degrees and more than 150 workers are available for hand-gritting in emergency situations."

Passengers travelling on East Midlands Trains today and tomorrow are being advised to check ahead of travel.