BILLY Davies today insisted Nottingham Forest do not need new signings to give them a lift following their defeat at Burnley.

But, with the Reds facing a selection crisis ahead of the trip to Bradford in the Carling Cup tomorrow, the Scot admitted his squad is already starting to look thin.

Forest have five players away on international duty, while Kelvin Wilson and Paul McKenna picked up ankle injuries at Turf Moor.

After the arrival of left-back Ryan Bertrand on loan from Chelsea, Davies allowed Julian Bennett to join Crystal Palace on loan last Friday.

It will leave Forest to field a young side at Valley Parade tomorrow night.

But, following their display in the Championship opener on Saturday, Davies insists Forest should be confident.

"We don't need a lift," said the Forest boss. "We don't need our spirits to be lifted by the addition of new players.

"We can be lifted by this very positive performance at Burnley because, on any other day, we would have won.

"Kelvin has picked up an ankle injury which will add to our problems.

"We have five players away on international duty. We have Majewski, Bertrand, Gunter, Earnshaw and Moloney all away.

"That does not help and the rules on that do not apply in round one, which is strange.

"The numbers will be down. But it will give our younger players an opportunity."

Davies does admit new signings are still required to add strength in depth.

And Forest have taken a step closer to signing Swansea's Darren Pratley, after the Swans' contract talks with the midfielder stalled. Peter Whittingham, the Cardiff winger, is also still on Forest's radar.

"It is like anything else, it is a marathon, not a sprint and there are several weeks left before the end of the transfer window," said Davies. "We need more depth to get us through.

"But I have every confidence in David Pleat, in the chairman, in Mark Arthur and everyone else to get things done, to get what is required."

And chief executive Arthur confirmed that Forest are making progress.

"Cardiff have said that they want to keep their best squad together," he said. "But we are aware that Whittingham is in the last year of his contract. And I am sure they are not in a financial position where they can afford to let that run down.

"We understand he has rejected a new offer, so we have to be a little bit patient and hopefully we can bring him in.

"If not, we will try to bring him in in January or at the end of the season, because we know he wants to come.

"The Pratley situation is similar, they've offered him a new contract and apparently he has turned it down. Swansea have to make a decision."

Forest target Nicky Shorey has passed a medical with West Brom and is set to move from Aston Villa today.