Davies faces 'impossible' fight to keep Reds strikers happy

BILLY Davies today admitted he faces an impossible challenge to keep all six of Nottingham Forest's strikers happy.

But he insisted: "They'll all have a part to play."

Last season's 17-goal top scorer Robert Earnshaw has started only two Championship games this season and summer signing Dele Adebola has been in the starting line-up just five times.

And, while Nathan Tyson and Joe Garner have both been regularly involved – it has normally been in wide positions on the Forest flanks.

Manager Davies concedes that it is tough to keep all of his front players happy.

But he insisted that all of them will be needed between now and the end of the Championship campaign.

"It is difficult to keep players happy, because they want to be playing," said Davies.

"David McGoldrick is a top player and was top scorer at his last club. Dele Adebola is a top player and was top scorer at his last club. Dexter Blackstock is a top player and was top scorer at his last club – you are spotting a theme here, aren't you?

"There is serious competition and, for any club to be successful, you need that.

"Over a long, hard season, having five or six strikers is a must.

"Sometimes we will need Robert Earnshaw to play, sometimes it will be Dexter, McGoldrick or Adebola.

"And I still don't disregard Nathan Tyson or Joe Garner when it comes to having a role through the middle.

"At the moment they are playing in wider areas, but I still see them as strikers. In the meantime, they are more than capable of contributing in wide areas."

With Blackstock and Tyson injured, Earnshaw is likely to be included in the squad if he recovers fully from his calf injury when Bristol City visit tomorrow.

And Davies is happy with the strength in depth he has up front – but not in other areas of the pitch.

"That is why, when I look at our squad and ask whether we are ready yet, I say no," he said.

"I am not trying to be clever with that either, nor pull the wool over anyone's eyes. It is a fact.

"Up front, we are ready for competing in Championship football, at this level, yes.

"Whether we are ready for Premiership football (up front). . . we would have to review that carefully.

"When you go up to the next level it is a massive gulf.

"It is a different type of player you need and a different type of approach.

"I would not say that we are not ready, but a serious review would be required if we were to make the next step up."