By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

3rd Aug, 2023 | 2:29pm

Sources: Nottingham Forest hit by crushing Felipe injury blow

Nottingham Forest fear defender Felipe will miss the start of the new Premier League and faces a spell on the sidelines with a troublesome knee injury, sources have told Football Insider.

Felipe, 34, has hardly featured for Steve Cooper’s side during pre-season with a knee problem and was absent again for Wednesday’s friendly defeat to Rennes.

Forest begin their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on 12th August and it seems unlikely Felipe will be fit for Steve Cooper’s side.

Cooper will be hoping Felipe’s knee injury is not too serious as the Brazilian played a key role in helping Forest stay up during the second half of last season following his arrival from Atletico Madrid. 

Felipe joined Forest in January 2023 in a deadline-day deal from the Spanish side.

He made 16 appearances for Forest in the second half of the 2022/23 season, producing one assist.

Felipe picked up three wins and four draws in the Premier League to help Forest survive the drop and finish 16th in the table.

The veteran defender brings plenty of experience to Forest’s dressing room having enjoyed a 14-year career as a professional footballer.

He started his career at Brazilian sides Uniao Mogi and Corinthians before joining Porto in 2016.

After a three-year stint at the Portuguese side, Felipe made a permanent move to Spain with Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone’s side paying a fee of around £17million for his signature.

With Felipe sidelined, Cooper will have to rely on a defensive department that includes Willy Boly, Jonathan Panzo, Scott McKenna, Joe Worrall and Moussa Niakhate.

In other news, Nottingham Forest deadline revealed as players threaten legal action