Lewis Grabban has been at the centre of an injury dispute with Nottingham Forest, Sportsmail understands.
Grabban is said to be taking the advice of his personal fitness coach, which has at times run counter to the opinion of Forest physios.
The issue became contentious during training the week before the match against Derby on February 25, when Forest officials are believed to have questioned the extent of Grabban’s Achilles problem. Sources say Grabban took exception and left the Nigel Doughty Academy visibly irritated.
Grabban was not in the squad for the match against their bitter rivals, which Forest won 1-0, and was also omitted from the 2-0 defeat at Stoke on Saturday. Sources close to the player insist he knows his body fully and would play if at all possible.
Martin O’Neill has moved to mediate the situation – it is understood a resolution has since been found – and the Forest manager is hopeful of selecting the 31–year–old for Saturday’s game against Hull if treatment goes well. Next Wednesday’s match against Aston Villa would be the next target.
Forest are eager to get the £6million signing back on the pitch to aid an outside bid for the play-offs. They are ninth, four points off Bristol City in sixth having played a game more, and Grabban is by far the side’s top scorer with 16 goals in 33 appearances.
Grabban played the full 90 minutes against Preston on February 16 and reported the Achilles injury afterwards.
O’Neill, who has made a good impact since replacing Aitor Karanka, is taking a diplomatic stance. Speaking ahead of the Stoke game, the Forest manager said: ‘Lewis is no closer, which is a disappointment to us. He has had another injection, to help alleviate it. We hope that will go a long way to help him.
‘But it is one of those where he just needs a little bit of rest. At the minute he has been trying to play through the pain barrier.
'We do not want to do anyone damage. That would be a pointless exercise.’
When asked if Grabban's could be a problem that clears up in the summer, O’Neill added: ‘Yes, without question it is.’