Town manager Joe Royle says Forest manager Paul Hart has done an outstanding job with his side given the club's financial circumstances. The Blues boss was full of praise for his side's opponents at the City Ground on Saturday.

Royle's side will be without Finidi George for the trip, the Nigerian turned his ankle in Wednesday night's reserve match with Spurs and is hobbling.

The manager says the squad will be the same as the one for the win against Coventry at the weekend which means Martijn Reuser, impressive in the reserves on Wednesday, is still not ready for action either this weekend or in the Worthington Cup match with Liverpool next week.

However, his performance against the Tottenham second string was noted by Royle: “A big improvement last night. Martijn was looking a bit forlorn a couple of weeks ago, his knee was giving him one or two problems. But he successfully came through last night although he's very tired.”

Royle has been impressed with the progress of Nottingham Forest this season, a side managed by Paul Hart, the only player, the Town boss says, who ever knocked him out during his career as a player: “They are having a great season. They pass it everywhere and Harty's done a great job. Considering their financial problems to make progress under those circumstances means they've done outstandingly well.”

Former Town striker David Johnson will be the focus of much of the attention at the on Saturday and he is a player Royle and assistant Willie Donachie know well: “I've known Johnno a long time, even back when he was at United a long time ago. He's having a great season. Willie saw him at close quarters when he was at Sheffield Wednesday last season when he was there on loan. He's done very well and is scoring goals.

“But I'm not worried about him. I always pay more attention to us rather than the opposition. I respect them as a good side but I'm more concerned about us. When I came here I felt that if we play as we can play we've got a very talented squad.”

Johnson, 18 goals so far this season, recovered from his back/hamstring problem to score in Forest's 3-2 win against Brighton on Wednesday. However, according to Royle, Forest are by no means a one man team: “Scimeca's having a great season for them, Des Walker, after a sabbatical, has come back to play very well for them and Marlon Harewood has shown some consistent form, so overall they have done very well.”

The Town boss says he is expecting more goals from his central midfielders Matt Holland and Jamie Clapham, who he cites as an unsung hero, and even from Jim Magilton who he says plays a more sitting role in the midfield for his side.

Royle's starting XI is likely to be very similar to that employed against Coventry last Saturday.

Squad: Ambrose, Armstrong, D Bent, Brown, Clapham, Couñago, Gaardsøe, Gerrard, Holland, Hreidarsson, Makin, Magilton, Marshall, McGreal, Wilnis, Wright and Venus.

Photo: Action Images

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