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Controversial midfielder Henri Lansbury will miss Nottingham Forest’s game at Newcastle United over Christmas through injury.

Lansbury would have been certain of a hot reception at St James’ Park after his clash with Jonjo Shelvey, which saw the United midfielder sent off and Rafa Benitez uncharacteristically singling him out for criticism after the game.

Shelvey himself said that Lansbury “made a meal” of the tangle between the two, which was the game’s turning point.

The red card was later overturned but Lansbury – who was also accused by Sky’s pundits of playing for a penalty when Paul Dummett was sent off just before half-time – stayed on the pitch and helped turn the game in Forest’s favour.

Newcastle fans won’t have to wait long for the sequel to the bad-tempered clash – Forest arrive on December 30 for the last game of a rollercoaster year for United.

But Lansbury won’t be involved after injuring himself in the warm-up to the East Midlands derby against Derby County – a problem that will see him sidelined for “several weeks”.

That news was confirmed by Philippe Montanier at his press conference today. “Henri will be out for a few weeks. It was curious as there was no signs during the week, it only appeared in the warm-up,” he said.