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Nottingham Forest defender Yohan Benalouane has explained his absence for the Tunisia national team – by posting a scan of his “buttocks”.

The centre-back missed the end of the Championship season for the Reds. He was sent off in the 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United, picking up a two-match ban as a result, then was not involved on the final day at home to Bolton Wanderers.

He has not been called up by his country for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, and says it is due to an injury.

He posted some pictures on Instagram, including one of himself putting a finger to his lips, as well as two of the scan which Benalouane says shows a “rift in the buttocks”.

The caption alongside translates as: “For those who start to argue, here is the ultrasound of my buttocks.

“So yes I spoke with (Tunisia) coach Alain Giresse, who I want to emphasize is a very great coach but especially a very great person with whom I had a very good discussion, and I told him (I would) not be ready for two reasons.

“Firstly I’m not ready because physically I have to recover because of this rift in the buttocks and secondly I do not want to participate in a competition without having made qualifying matches.

“Thank you to those who support me, thank you to others so your hate will not get you anywhere #peace #tunisie Good luck to the whole team and all the staff for the CAN.”

Forest duo Adlene Guedioura and Tendayi Darikwa have been called up by Algeria and Zimbabwe respectively for the tournament in Egypt.

It means they will miss a chunk of the Reds’ pre-season preparations.