Nottingham Forest upset with Senegal over the handling of Cheikhou Kouyate

Nottingham Forest fans have been watching the World Cup just like the rest of us, but they know there is a big task ahead of them when the club season resumes. Steve Cooper's team will fight for the Premier League survival and will need all the players fit and raring to go. That's why they have been badly struck by the injury of their midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate at the World Cup.

The English club is angry with Senegal coach Aliou Cisse for risking the hard-working midfielder in the Atlas Lions' opening match in the tournament against the Netherlands. And sure enough, the former Crystal Palace and West Ham man sustained a hamstring tear and will have to sit out a long time, possibly two months - much to Cooper's frustration.

"Cheikhou is still going through some more scans to determine the real extent of it. However, he isn't going to be back soon."

Kouyate joined Forest on a free transfer last summer and appeared in 12 of their 15 league matches before the World Cup break. He is one of the main players in the heavily-rehauled Forest squad, bankrolled by their wealthy Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The Premier League strugglers may now turn to FIFA for financial compensation. As part of the FIFA Club Protection Programme, the organisation can compensate a club if their player is injured during an official FIFA game.

This compensation does not kick in until the player is ruled out for more than four weeks, though. Kouyate's injury happened on 21 November, meaning Forest could claim compensation as soon as the start of next week.

Just how much the club gets is calculated based on the player's contract and salary with the club. English press estimated that Forest would receive around KSh2.7 million every day Kouyate spends out injured.