So clubs tend to play the 'injury card', when all they are doing is resting a number of players.
So view the team news for tonight's game with Forest as a few 'porky pies'.
FOREST TEAM NEWS -
Joel Lynch is a doubt ahead of Nottingham Forest's Carling Cup second round clash against Championship rivals Middlesbrough at the City Ground.
The left-back sustained a back injury in he first-half of the Reds draw at QPR on Saturday and failed to re-emerge after the break.
Boss Billy Davies brought on Garath McCleary to play at right-back at Loftus Road, with Chris Gunter switching full-back positions to cover for Lynch on the opposite side.
That is one option available to Davies if Lynch is not available, although the Scot could ask midfielder Chris Cohen to play at left-back again.
Davies' defensive options are already limited with James Perch (shin), Julian Bennett (knee) and Kelvin Wilson (ankle) out. Midfielders Guy Moussi (thigh) and Lewis McGugan (fractured cheekbone) also remain sidelined.