Left-back Dani Pinillos has been out of action for almost a year.

Nottingham Forest manager Philippe Montanier has told the club’s official website that the return of Dani Pinillos after a year on the sidelines feels like a new signing.

The Spanish left-back made an impressive start to life at the City Ground after arriving from Cordoba last summer but saw his season cut cruelly short when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in December against MK Dons.

Daniel Fox has stepped in to good effect on the left hand side of defence this season but Montanier admits that having Pinillos at his disposal for the first time this season comes as a huge boost.

Dani Pinillos is closer to be part of the group to go to Ipswich,” Montanier told the club’s official website

“Dani is like a new player for me. I enjoy this comeback as he is a good guy and he works hard, so to see him in the group and be part of the group to go to Ipswich is very good news.

He played two games with the Under 23s and I am confident that he can help the team. I have a dream to have everyone fit.

“We know we can have one or two injured players, but when you have seven or eight and a lot of key players it is more difficult. I hope that in the next few weeks we will have 80 per cent of our squad fit.”

Forest have plummeted down the table in recent weeks though waning results have not been helped by a series of injuries, particularly to strike duo Nicklas Bendtner and Britt Assombalonga (below).

However, Montanier could welcome Michael Mancienne back into the fold ahead of this weekend’s match against Ipswich Town, though David Vaughan, Jack Hobbs and Matty Cash are all expected to be unavailable as Forest aim to halt an alarming slide that already appears to have destroyed any early optimism that surrounded their season.

In other news, Some Leeds fans think Bielsa could turn star 'into Raheem Sterling' if Orta signs him