NOTTINGHAM Forest may kick-off the new Championship season with only one fit central defender, Billy Davies warned today.

With Wes Morgan, Kelvin Wilson and Joel Lynch all injured, Luke Chambers was the only recognised centre-half in the side that lost 3-1 to Lyon at the City Ground last night.

Reds boss Davies – who was also missing skipper Paul McKenna with a groin strain and keeper Lee Camp with a virus – says it is highly unlikely any of the trio will return in time to face Swindon in the final pre-season outing on Saturday.

And he warned it is uncertain whether any would be available for the opening Championship game of the season at Burnley in just over a week.

"It is unlikely that we will have two central defenders at Swindon. I am hopeful that we will at Burnley, but there is a possibility that it might not happen," said Davies. "We might have to see Julian Bennett or Chris Gunter in there.

"We would like to be picking the team now that we want to start the Championship season but we can't do that at the moment.

"The doctor advised that Camp should not play. McKenna has a groin strain, but it does not look too serious.

"As I keep saying, we will play who we can play, we will use who is available.

"In the Championship, you need quality and quantity to carry you through. At the moment, we have the quality but not the quantity.

"There are key players missing in Morgan, Wilson, McKenna, Camp and Paul Anderson. But we will cope with what we have."

Davies was pleased with the work-out against Lyon.

"You can see why they beat Real Madrid and got to the semi-final of the Champions League," he said. "We knew they had ability, we knew they would keep the ball and show continental style. It was a fantastic exercise."