Steve Cooper, the Nottingham Forest manager, is under increasing scrutiny after freezing out captain Joe Worrall but is expected to take the game at Wolves this weekend.

Cooper’s position as head coach is hanging in the balance as the club weigh up potential successors, with former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui among a number of candidates to be sounded out.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is growing increasingly frustrated after an alarming run of one win in 11 matches and the club are actively seeking a replacement.

It has also emerged that Worrall, the defender, has been instructed to train with Scotland international Scott McKenna in a separate group away from the first team before matches.

Worrall and McKenna were two of Forest’s promotion heroes in the 2021/22 season and are now training together, seemingly out of Cooper’s plans.

McKenna’s situation is understood to be linked to a contract dispute that occurred before the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sept 23.

Marinakis stormed out of Craven Cottage on Wednesday night after the fourth goal in the 5-0 defeat by Fulham, hurling his match accreditation lanyard into a bush outside the stadium.

He is targeting a top-10 finish this season after spending another £100 million on new players over the summer.

Cooper is safe, for now, but only due to the lack of quality replacements and the fact that Forest are in a three-game week.

Saturday’s game at Molineux could be his final match, after just over two years in charge, if Forest can find an available alternative.

Cooper insists he cannot head into the Midlands derby fearing for his own future.

“When I walk out of here the only thing I’ll be focused on is the game against Wolves,” he said after the Fulham defeat. “I won’t walk out of here thinking about fearing for my job. That’s a terrible thing to think. All I will think about is changing last night into something more positive.

“It was a difficult night but we have got to do whatever it takes to make Saturday a much more positive day. It’s about standing right at the front and accepting responsibility for last night and doing everything we can to put it right.”