Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage says Josh Osude will be out for eight to 12 weeks after suffering a partial rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament, adding to the club’s difficult start to the season.
Osude, who Savage described as a “shining light” after playing 45 minutes in the previous match, reported the injury the following morning. The forward told staff his knee had swollen after he slipped getting out of the shower.
The injury means Forest Green must adjust their attacking options before the trip to Hornchurch. Savage said Ricardo Rees and D’Mani Mellor were competing for the central forward role, while other possible changes included moving Tate Campbell forward and bringing Kyle Ajayi into the team.
Savage calls for belief after three defeats
Forest Green have taken six points from their first five matches, winning two and losing three. Savage acknowledged that the results had been disappointing, but said the response from the players, staff and supporters showed the group remained united.
“We need to be better, but we can’t be any better in terms of the effort, the endeavour, everything we’re giving,” Savage said.
The manager said the club had missed opportunities in its previous two games and could have collected four points from them. He also said the squad had been devastated after the latest defeat, while praising supporters for applauding the players at the final whistle.
Savage warned that frustration must not become personal abuse. He said fans were entitled to be disappointed, but that verbal abuse directed at players crossed an unacceptable line when the team had given everything.
He described the current period as a test for him as a manager, drawing on earlier setbacks in his playing career. Savage said he wanted to protect his players from criticism and allow them to play with freedom, while accepting responsibility for the team’s results.
Forest Green to retain 4-2-3-1 system
Despite the poor run, Savage said he was not planning a major tactical overhaul. Forest Green will continue with their 4-2-3-1 structure rather than panic after five matches.
He said the team had been working to find solutions with a new squad, while retaining its underlying principles. The manager acknowledged that the side had looked too deep and left gaps in some matches, but believed those issues had improved against AFC Fylde.
Savage said the club’s data showed Forest Green had used one of the division’s highest defensive lines, even though his own impression was that the team had often sat deeper. He added that the side had looked solid until half-time in recent matches against Worthing and Boreham Wood.
The manager also highlighted the support of sporting director Mark Bowen, Dale Vince and Asif, saying conversations with them had reinforced the need to trust the process rather than make a reactionary change.
Hornchurch arrive in strong form
Forest Green face a Hornchurch side Savage described as “flying”. The opponents have won four of their first five matches and sit third in the league, giving them momentum ahead of the fixture.
Savage credited Daryl and Anton with the work they had done and said Hornchurch’s promotion had given the club confidence. He expects Ryan Inniss, a former Forest Green player, to be a significant presence in both penalty areas and acknowledged that former players can have an added point to prove when they face their old club.
Forest Green will look to create chances down the sides and be more ruthless in the final third. Savage said Rees and Mellor could potentially play together, depending on the demands of the match, while Kyle McAllister and Sean Etaluku were also among the attacking players he praised.
New analyst praised by Savage
Savage also gave a positive assessment of new club analyst Christian Rieger. He described Rieger as a local who had worked at the World Cup with FIFA and praised the depth of his analysis.
The manager said he and Rieger review Hornchurch separately before combining their observations into a single plan for the players. Savage said he wanted the analyst to have the freedom to identify details the coaching staff might otherwise miss.
While acknowledging that the next phase could remain “bumpy”, Savage said he believed Forest Green’s players and staff would come through the difficult spell together. The club’s immediate challenge is to turn that belief into a result at Hornchurch while coping without Osude.