Steve Cooper wants his Forest side to pick up from where they left off as they travel to Reading this weekend.
Before the two-week international break, The Reds signed off with a big 3-0 win over Preston North End at The City Ground courtesy of goals from Lewis Grabban and Jack Colback.
Cooper's side have lost only one of their last 10 games in the Championship and head into this weekend's clash with The Royals having gone unbeaten in their last three matches.
Whilst a few first-team players have been representing their respective countries away on international duty, it has been a productive fortnight on the training pitch for the Head Coach and his team.
“We’ve been out on the grass and got some good work done," he said.
“Obviously not everyone has been here as we’ve had some players away on international duty, but we’ve got some good work done with the players who have been here.
“It’s been a good chance to see some younger players from the Under-23s, so it has been a positive international break, but we’re fully focussed on a busy week ahead.
“I think as long as you use the break wisely and make sure you’re in the place you left off before it’s a good break. We ended in decent form on the back of a good home win, but the challenge for us all is to pick up from where we left off and improve even more.
“You’ll see other teams go into the international break in one way of form and come out in another way of form, there’s two sides to it. You’ve got to work hard and hope that whatever’s happened before the international break, you restart in a positive way."
A busy week awaits The Reds, who travel to Reading on Saturday before hosting Luton Town on Tuesday evening and then travelling to West Bromwich Albion next Friday night.
But Cooper is eager to take it one game at a time, adding: "We talk about the break, but it's straight back into a busy week.
"We can't look any further than this weekend against Reading. We know we've got Luton and West Brom in a short space of time, but what we have to do is focus what we're in control of and that's preparing for Reading.
"We're looking forward to playing again. I see a motivated group of players who just want to get back on the road and get back playing.
"It's an exciting week ahead. We've got to focus on ourselves, we have to prepare for an opposition being at their best.
"We have to also prepare with it knowing that we want to take ownership of the result. That's no different. I'm more focussed on the game plan on how to beat Reading rather than what's gone on off the pitch."
Elsewhere, Cooper revealed that defender Loïc Mbe Soh has had a setback as he looks recover from a long-term injury which he sustained in the opening day defeat to Coventry City.
"Loïc's had a setback in the final stages of his return," Cooper added. "It's a real pity for him, he showed an excellent attitude towards returning to playing, nobody's done anything wrong and it's an unfortunate situation.
"We're still trying to find out the results in terms of how long he's going to be out for, but I feel for him because he's a young boy. His time will come."