Nottingham Forest defender Omar Richards is making ‘positive progress’ but won’t feature in the Reds' Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, according to The Athletic journalist Paul Taylor.

The Lowdown: Richards injury setback

The left-back swapped Bayern Munich for the Midlands over the summer but suffered a serious leg injury not long after his arrival at the City Ground, meaning that he is yet to feature in the Premier League.

Whilst the 24-year-old isn’t able to be considered for any matches this side of Christmas given the nature of his situation, a fresh update has emerged sharing some hugely encouraging news.

The Latest: Richards fitness update

Taking to Twitter on Monday afternoon, Taylor revealed that Richards has now participated in group training with his Forest team-mates for the first time as he aims to get back to full fitness following the conclusion of the World Cup next month.

He wrote: “Omar Richards trained with the rest of the #NFFC squad for the first time today, since beginning his recovery from a hairline fracture in his leg.

“He won't feature v Spurs, but it is positive progress."

The Verdict: Boost for Cooper

With Harry Toffolo currently injured and Renan Lodi failing to convince, it will come as a massive boost to Steve Cooper knowing that Richards is set to make a timely return to action soon.

The former Bayern gem would have been hoping to already have a significant number of games under his belt for Forest by now, but he has instead been left frustrated since his summer move.

Richards will feel like a new signing whenever he’s next available for selection, and Reds supporters will be hoping that he’ll be able to help his team out on the pitch at a time when they very much need it.