Nottingham Forest midfielder Orel Mangala has insisted he is not injured and fully fit for this international break with Belgium.
The midfielder has been speaking after training with his country today, with comments relayed by Het Laatste Nieuws.
Mangala is likely to feature in both of Belgium’s games during this international break, having established himself as a key player under current manager Domenico Tedesco.
There had been a belief he could be set to miss out, though, having been replaced from Nottingham Forest’s recent 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace with seven minutes of the game remaining.
The fear was that he had suffered a potential injury but that did not appear to be the case when he still travelled to link up with Belgium this week.
He’s now been asked about his situation and insists his recent substitution was not due to any serious injury issue.
“I am 100% fit,” he said.
“I left the field last weekend due to cramps. Not due to an injury.”
All eyes will now be on how Mangala gets on during the international break and if he can get through it unscathed.
We’re sure if Steve Cooper and Nottingham Forest had their say then the midfielder, who has been a key player for them this season, wouldn’t have been travelling.
He has, though, and the hope will be that his cramp against Crystal Palace wasn’t the beginning of anything more serious down the line.
