Nottingham Forest have banished club captain Joe Worrall from first-team training

Nottingham Forest captain Joe Worrall has been banished from first-team training, according to reports.

The 26-year-old defender, who only signed a new deal at the City Ground in September, has been told to train on a different pitch from the rest of Steve Cooper's first-team squad.

In fact, Worrall and his teammate Scott McKenna – another player that has been used sparingly this season – have been instructed to report for training at an alternative time to their senior colleagues.

The reason behind Worrall and McKenna's dismissal is unknown but sources have told The Mail that their removal is not related to 'any behavioural issues or rows.'

It is also said that both players can leave the Premier League outfit when the January window opens.

Worrall, who has made just six Premier League appearances this season after playing such a key part in their promotion-winning campaign last year, is the longest serving Forest player by some distance.

He joined the club as a youngster in 2011 and has since made over 200 appearances across all competitions.

As mentioned earlier, the Nottingham-born defender committed his future to Forest earlier this year having previously signed a long-term deal in 2020.

He penned a two-year extension to his current contract.

“I’m over the moon and just so pleased to extend my time with the club," Worrall said at the time.

“You only have to look to the future and it looks very bright. Everybody knows how much we care to try and improve as a team and try and push on as a club.

“The owner has proved time and time again that he’s creating the Forest family and building a real identity within the football club, not just in the club, but in the league and in world football. We want to become that force again.”

🚨Exc: Nottingham Forest banish club captain Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna from first team training. No official explanation as to why - but pair set to be available for transfer in January. https://t.co/HxYfUbXmF4

— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) December 7, 2023

This latest incident comes just a day after Nottingham Forest suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Steve Cooper's future has been thrown into doubt as a result of their poor form, but the 43-year-old expects to be in charge for Saturday's trip to Wolves.

“I have not spoken to him (Evangelos Marinakis),” Cooper said on Thursday. “I spoke to Miltos (Marinakis, Evangelos’ son) on the phone about the game; we had a conversation purely about the match."

Cooper added: "I saw Ross (Wilson, chief football officer). But I’ve not heard from anyone else. We are ready to do our day’s work.”