Nottingham Forest vs Brighton & Hove Albion - Forest to check on defensive duo

Nottingham Forest will check on Kelvin Wilson before the visit of title-chasing Brighton.

Wilson came off with a back injury during the first half of the defeat to Reading but it is hoped the extra rest could work in the Reds' favour ahead of Monday night.

Fellow defender Michael Mancienne will also be assessed after he missed the loss at the Madejski Stadium with an ankle injury, while full-back Eric Lichaj will almost certainly come back into the reckoning after a one-match ban.

Club-record signing Britt Assombalonga is close to making his long-awaited return from a knee injury. The 23-year-old striker has been sidelined for 13 months.

Brighton are without strike duo Sam Baldock and Bobby Zamora for the trip.

Baldock was forced off in last weekend's 2-2 draw at home to Burnley with a hamstring problem and missed the midweek win at Birmingham.

He has been pencilled in to return to the squad for Friday's clash with Fulham, as has Zamora who has not played since early March after suffering an unspecified knock in training.

Boss Chris Hughton this week praised the return of Kazenga LuaLua after injury, saying: "Kazenga is an explosive player and he has that physicality. He's been starved of that over the last few months because of injury and it's good to have him back."