Jordi Osei-Tutu still isn’t back in action for Nottingham Forest, after he missed his reported return target of the October international break.

Jordi Osei-Tutu of Nottingham Forest in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth at the City Ground, Nottingham on Saturday 14th August 2021. Copyright: MI News
Jordi Osei-Tutu of Nottingham Forest in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth at the City Ground, Nottingham on Saturday 14th August 2021. Copyright: MI News

Nottinghamshire Live recently reported that Jordi Osei-Tutu’s target return date was October 5th, during the international break. That was after former manager Chris Hughton had ruled him out for “a number of weeks” in early September.

Unfortunately, new Forest boss Steve Cooper confirmed earlier this month that the defender wouldn’t be back soon.

“Jordi is still with Arsenal. He’s still doing his recovery,” Cooper said in early October. “When things progress, we’ll get an update from Arsenal. It won’t be yet. He’s nowhere near being ready for us.

“With him getting injured in the Blackburn game, Arsenal have taken care of his recovery – which is sometimes the case with loan players.

“It seems to be a little bit longer than anybody hoped, especially Jordi. We’re in Arsenal’s hands with it. It won’t be soon, that’s for sure.”

A few weeks later, Osei-Tutu still appears to be with Arsenal, and he hasn’t returned to the Nottingham Forest squad.

The Arsenal loan full-back picked up a hamstring injury in Forest’s game against Blackburn Rovers in August. That followed three hamstring setbacks with Cardiff City last season.

Former Nottingham Forest boss Hughton confirmed this latest injury was to the same hamstring as before. Hughton was subsequently sacked and replaced by Steve Cooper following a poor run of results.

Though he’s primarily a right-back, Osei-Tutu featured at left-back for Forest before his injury. Whether he continues on the left or shifts to the right when he does return will be a question for the new manager to answer.