Nottingham Forest midfielder Ben Osborn was not even in Martin O’Neill’s side’s match day squad yesterday.
Osborn has been a mainstay in Forest’s match day squad all season, but he was not even included among the substitutes’ last night.
O’Neill decided to play Jack Robinson at left-back, with Arvin Appiah starting down the wing against Sheffield Wednesday.
And the Forest boss has confirmed that Osborn was dropped for tactical reasons, rather than through injury.
He said: “I will give you an idea [why Osborn wasn’t in the team]. Ben’s running stats are high. He’s played left-back, left midfield and wide left hand side in the games. He’s done as much work as anybody else.
“We just wanted to go and have a little look at it and see, and you can only pick 18.”
O’Neill’s changes to Forest’s team didn’t have the desired impact, as the Reds fell to a disappointing defeat.
Forest lost 3-0 at Hillsborough, and they were outplayed in the second half.
The Owls scored three goals in quick succession after the break, and Forest had no answer.
O’Neill’s side have now slipped down to 10th place in the Championship table, six points away from the play off spots.
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