DOUBT surrounds Andrew Cole's future at Nottingham Forest.

The club today insisted the striker was still a Forest player, with chief executive Mark Arthur refuting talk that Cole's contract had been cancelled by mutual consent.

But it is understood that the Nottingham-born former Manchester United and Newcastle star is increasingly frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities – and is requesting talks about his future.

Cole was left out of the squad altogether when Cardiff visited on Saturday, after starting the two previous matches against QPR and Ipswich.

And he had previously publicly expressed his dismay at finding himself on the sidelines earlier in the campaign, warning that he had not come to the club to 'sit on the bench'.

But with Joe Garner, Robert Earnshaw and Paul Anderson returning to full fitness – and Forest manager Colin Calderwood often favouring a three-man front line that includes two pacy wide-men – Cole is seemingly facing an even bigger fight to get into the team.

And it now appears that the 37-year-old is prepared to consider leaving the City Ground in search of more regular first team football.

Cole has started five matches and made six substitute appearances for Forest, but is still waiting for his first goal for the club he watched as a boy.