STUART Pearce will this week explore his options in the loan market, as Nottingham Forest face up to the daunting prospect of seeing skipper Chris Cohen sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
It is feared the luckless Reds midfielder has sustained the third serious knee injury of his career, after limping off the pitch early in the local derby stalemate with Derby County.
Forest will wait for the swelling in his right knee to abate, before sending the 27-year-old for a scan to determine the seriousness of the injury – but it is feared that Cohen has damaged his cruciate ligament.
Manager Pearce still hopes the news will be positive but, with Andy Reid also having limped off with a suspected groin injury and striker Matty Fryatt sidelined with a pelvic problem, Pearce will look to see if any potential loan signings can be identified, with the midfield likely to be his priority.
"Chris deserves some luck, of course he does. He is a fantastic captain and a fantastic man. I will have a chat with the physios and we will see how things turn out. But, for his sake, you hope that it is not serious," said Pearce.
"He is a credit to this club and we do not want to lose him for any period of time.
"I did not have my eyes on anyone in the loan window, before this game. But now, having collected a few injuries, we will have to reassess and look at things this week, I think.
"It is too early to say how serious the injury is, we will let things settle down. It would be remiss of me to surmise what the problem might be.
"We will let the dust settle, then we will look at the injury situation."
On Fryatt, Pearce added: "Matty Fryatt does have a pelvic problem, but we will have a look at that and see what course of action we need to take."
Winger Chris Burke believes Cohen has the strength of character to bounce back from yet another injury blow.
"Chris deserves more luck. He does everything right on and off the pitch, but it looks as though it has happened again. Hopefully he will get a scan and it will turn out to be better than we fear," said Burke.
"Everyone who knows him will wish him a good recovery and some good news. You do still hope that the scan will bring good news. We just have to wait, but our thoughts are with him.
"It is disappointing for Chris, I feel for him because he is a top pro. He does everything right on and off the pitch.
"To see things like that happen to such a top professional is not nice at all.
"I wish him a speedy recovery. I am sure he will come back even stronger. Hopefully it is not too serious but, in a sense his experience of the past might help him, because he knows what he needs to do to get back right again.
"I really do feel for him, because he is a top guy and a top pro."
