Nottingham Forest are confident on-loan Chelsea defender Sam Hutchison will return to full fitness.

A knee problem picked up in September has kept Hutchinson sidelined over recent weeks and prevented him from aiding Forest's efforts in the Championship.

Director of recruitment and scouting Keith Burt told the club's official website: "We are pleased with Sam's rehabilitation and believe his return to full fitness will be a matter of weeks rather than months.

"Sam has already shown our supporters that he is a player of enormous talent and we believe we can offer him the perfect stage to fulfil his vast potential.

"Our owner Fawaz Al Hasawi is committed to providing the best medical care to all of our players."