Derek Geary has virtually been ruled out for the rest of the season when a scan revealed that his ankle injury will not heal in time.

The diminutive defender heard the news he had been dreading last night and Kevin Blackwell said:

"It is a savage blow for Derek because it looks as if it will be three months before he has recovered so that is virtually the season over for him.

"Having spent so long getting back from a knee injury so serious that most people would have just given up on it, fight back to make the first-team and then get this is desperately unlucky for him, particularly as he is out of contract in the summer."

Geary, who sustained the ankle damage just before half-time at Forest a week ago has made just five league starts during this campaign.