Johnson set for timely Forest return

David Johnson looks set to provide the Nottingham Forest manager Paul Hart with a fitness boost ahead of the City Ground meeting with Brighton tonight.

The striker has been nursing a back problem for the past couple of weeks and it flared up again on Saturday, forcing Forest's leading goalscorer, with 17 this season, to limp off during the closing stages of the 2-1 defeat at Wolves. There were fears that he would miss the Brighton game, but he has been given the green light to train and looks likely to play.

The Brighton manager, Steve Coppell, has his own striker problems. Bobby Zamora (ankle) and Paul Kitson (back) are doubtful, with on-loan Graham Barrett out with a knee problem.

Coppell said: "It's up front where we are tested at the moment. Bobby, once again, did a magnificent job against Preston. He played when he shouldn't really have played, and to be honest he's going to struggle to play.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed, but to play three games in a week given his present physical condition is going to be very, very hard.

"We've got our three main strikers at the start of the season probably not available, but inevitably that will give an opportunity to other players so we'll have to rearrange, fudge it around and see what we come up with."

Defenders Dean Blackwell (hamstring) and Adam Hinshelwood (shoulder) face long spells on the sidelines.

The former Portsmouth and Gillingham centre-back Guy Butters could win a recall after playing in last week's reserve match with Hastings.

The Mansfield manager, Stuart Watkiss, has sought the advice of the League Managers' Association after his sending-off in the 5-4 defeat at home to Bristol City on Saturday. Watkiss was sent off for foul and abusive language towards the referee Eddie Ilderton after complaining about the amount of injury time being played.

Mansfield were leading 4-3 only for Bristol's Leroy Lita and Christian Roberts to snatch victory in the fifth and sixth minutes of injury time.

Watkiss said: "I've spoken to John Barnwell [the chief executive of the LMA] and he's going to get back to me. I've been told not to say anything about the situation, but we'll just have to see how things pan out."

Sheffield United's on-loan striker Dean Windass has hinted he may make a permanent switch to Bramall Lane, but he admits it could be difficult to seal such a move. The Middlesbrough forward arrived on a one-month loan at the start of November and has impressed manager Neil Warnock with good performances both in training and in the 5-0 thumping of Bradford last weekend.

Windass said: "It will not be easy, there are a lot of hurdles ahead, such as whether Middlesbrough let me go and if we could sort out the money situation. At the moment, I'm happy to continue working hard and help United climb the table."