Injury boost for Nottingham Forest defender amid flight delay and 4am finish

Latest Nottingham Forest news as Reds loanee Aaron Donnelly is praised by Dundee boss

Nottingham Forest loanee Aaron Donnelly is set to make an earlier than expected comeback from injury.

The defender signed a season-long loan deal with Dundee in the summer, but his spell was temporarily halted when he damaged ankle ligaments in training. He returned to the Reds for treatment and was expected to be sidelined “for a while”.

However, Dees boss Tony Docherty says the 20-year-old has made a quick recovery. And he has praised Forest youngster Donnelly’s attitude.

“He came back up on Monday, his flight was delayed and he didn’t get in until about 4am,” Docherty told The Courier. “I told him to take the morning off and do his physio checks in the afternoon, but he wanted to be in first thing with the rest of the lads.

“I think that says a lot about him. He was desperate to get back and get going again.

“He’s well ahead of where we expected him to be. He’s back much quicker.

“He damaged the ligaments but the ones around it were intact, so he was able to work hard and shave at least three weeks off his recovery time. So he will train with the boys this week and we’ll see where he is for the weekend.”

Donnelly picked up the injury during his first week training at Dens Park. He is yet to make his debut north of the border.

The young defender is highly regarded at the City Ground. He earned praise from head coach Steve Cooper after he made his Forest debut in last term’s Carabao Cup victory at Grimsby Town and went on to enjoy a successful loan at Port Vale.