25/07/2008 - Anderson is injured
Nottingham Forest will step up their search for another midfielder, after it emerged that loan signing Paul Anderson will miss the start of the season.
Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson is at the top of their list of potential targets, although it is understood that there are a number of other Championship clubs chasing the 21-year-old.
Forest would be willing to stump up the £2m Palace are likely to demand for the London born player, after a scan revealed that Anderson's thigh injury could keep him out for around a month.
The injury will not put Anderson's switch from Liverpool in doubt, with the player likely to be back in action well before the end of August, missing only a handful of matches. But it has been enough to prompt a fresh search for cover in midfield.
Forest may be too late in their move for Watson, however, with QPR also interested.
And a handful of Premiership sides are also believed to be monitoring the situation, with the former Selhurst Park trainee so far having refused a new contract, with 12 months left to run on his current deal.
Forest will tonight field Stephen Hughes in their friendly outing against Premiership Everton at the City Ground, but are unlikely to offer the player a contract.
The 31-year-old was released by Coventry at the end of last season, after failing to agree terms and will be given another chance to impress tonight, but only because of Chris Cohen's slight injury.
Forest fans will have the first chance to see Andrew Cole, Robert Earnshaw and Guy Moussi in action on home soil however, with all three players set to start the game.
Julian Bennett is also likely to play his first game of the summer.