Nottingham Forest braced for fresh interest in Joe Worrall next month

Nottingham Forest are braced for fresh interest in in-form stopper Joe Worrall.

The centre-back, 24, was targeted by promoted Brentford in the summer before they opted for Kristoffer Ajer from Celtic in a cut-price deal as the Norwegian's contract was expiring.

But Worrall has not let the aborted move affect his form and has totalled 16 appearances already this term.

The 6ft 4in ace has been outstanding in the last two games as Forest have kept successive clean sheets.

Burnley are long-term admirers and could follow up their interest should James Tarkowski leave as the defender is out of contract next summer.

Tarkowski, 29, who has two England caps, has previously been the subject of bids from both Leicester and West Ham who are both in Europe this season.

Everton and Newcastle are also monitoring highly-rated centre-back Worrall who could be available for around £10million.

Stoke defender Harry Souttar, 23, was also a January target for several top flight clubs but he is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

It has increased interest in Worrall, who previously lifted the trophy as captain for England at the 2017 Toulon Tournament.

Forest take on Peterborough on Saturday with Posh tracking Burton's Irish midfielder Tom O'Connor.

The holding midfielder, 22, is a set-piece specialist and has five goals this term already in League One.

Forest have only lost one of their last 13 games and are unbeaten in six matches.

Reds boss Steve Cooper said: "When you get on a bit of roll and have a bit momentum then all everybody wants to do is get to the next game as quick as possible so you can go again."

Forest are set to be backed by potentially one of their largest crowds of the season with around 28,000 set to be in attendance at The City Ground this weekend.

The Reds aim to record only their third home win of the season, having won only twice on home soil so far this term.

"To be honest, it's not good enough," Reds midfield dynamo Ryan Yates admitted. "We know that and we speak about it in the dressing room as players and the manager.

"If we want to be right up there, we need to have really good home form. You look at all the top teams in the division throughout the years and they've all had really solid home form.

"If you win your games at home, it sort of takes the pressure off you a little bit when you go away, whereas we've been good on the counter-attack and picked up good results away from home.

"If teams are going to come here and respect us at home and sit in a low block, we need to be able to break them down and I'm sure it'll be exactly the same on Saturday.

"I have no doubt that we will dominate the ball and we'll have to probe and improve on that front. If we can mix that up away from home, it'll be a really good blend for us."