Carl Fletcher today launched his bid for a return to Colin Calderwood's Nottingham Forest plans against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

The experienced midfielder missed the visit of Birmingham to The City Ground last weekend because of a back injury.

But Fletcher, who is on loan with The Reds from Crystal Palace, resumed training today with the hope of persuading manager Calderwood he is fit to return to his squad.

If all goes according to plan, he should be joined on the bus for the trip to the West Country by Joel Lynch, who was ruled out of the Birmingham game and Tuesday's reserve clash with Sheffield United by illness.

But doubts persist about the fitness of striker Robert Earnshaw, who is still nursing the calf injury that forced him to sit out the 1-1 draw with Birmingham.

The Welsh international is regarded as a serious doubt by Calderwood.