Nottingham Forest are set to lose their top medical chief

Jon Fearn, Nottingham Forest’s head of medical, is due to quit after less than seven months.

Fearn joined Forest only in July as part of a backroom shake-up, but Mail Sport understands he is about to leave the City Ground. Fearn is well regarded in the game, having spent 13 years with Chelsea before departing in January 2023.

It is unclear why Fearn is leaving after such a short time in the role. Nuno Espirito Santo took over as manager after Steve Cooper was fired in December, and at his first press conference, he stated that Forest needed to improve their injury record.

Since being promoted to the Premier League for the first time this century in 2022, Forest have frequently been without a number of players due to injury, and Nuno has been working with a limited squad since taking over, though this has been due in part to players competing in the African Cup of Nations.

Nuno stated in December, ‘It’s one of the things we need to address. We cannot have players out.

‘We must rely on all of them, and we will collaborate using our experience, particularly in fitness situations. The first three steps are professionalism, nutrition, and sleep. Injuries can occur, but some are avoidable.

And, prior to Forest’s game against Bournemouth earlier this season, Nuno stated that the club had ‘issues, always problems’ with having enough players available.

Meanwhile, Forest believe star striker Taiwo Awoniyi will be healthy to play Aston Villa on Saturday after hobbling off in the second half of their 2-0 victory against West Ham on February 17.