Nottingham Forest Captain Ryan Yates Shows Incredible Grit After Gruesome Finger Injury
Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates displayed extraordinary resilience during the Europa League play-off second leg against Fenerbahce, playing on despite suffering a sickening finger injury early in the match.
A Painful Incident at the City Ground
The 28-year-old midfielder dislocated his pinkie finger after falling and landing awkwardly just seven minutes into the second half at the City Ground. Yates was in clear and immediate pain, requiring urgent attention from Forest's medical team.
TNT Sports deemed the incident too graphic to show replays, with Yates' finger reportedly bent at a 90-degree angle. Commentator Darren Fletcher described the moment, saying, 'The fact he's just gestured to the physio and said, "Can you come and just sort this out," is remarkable. They'll just stick it back in. He's actually smiling about it. We're not going to show you it because it can put you off your tea.'
Remarkable Recovery and Fan Reaction
After receiving treatment, Yates simply returned to the pitch and continued playing, demonstrating remarkable toughness. Forest fans were quick to praise their skipper's determination on social media.
- One supporter wrote: 'Ryan Yates is rock 'ard isn't he?'
- Another commented: 'Hard as nails. Proper footballer. My captain.'
- A third quipped: 'I would have had a week off work.'
Match Context and Dramatic Turnaround
The injury wasn't even the most distressing moment for Forest fans during the tense encounter. Despite Nottingham Forest's impressive 3-0 victory in the away leg last week under new manager Vitor Pereira, Fenerbahce arrived in England determined to fight back.
The Turkish club took a 1-0 lead after just 22 minutes through Kerem Akturkoglu, who then doubled their advantage from the penalty spot early in the second half following Jair Cunha's controversial foul.
However, Callum Hudson-Odoi provided crucial relief for Forest supporters, halving the deficit with a superb bottom-corner finish after 68 minutes to give the East Midlands club breathing room in the tie.
This report will be updated with the full-time result and further developments following the conclusion of this dramatic Europa League play-off encounter.
