1 week Ago By [email protected] (Sarah Clapson)
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to have some late calls to make when it comes to picking his Nottingham Forest team for this weekend. It is a big game for the Reds at the City Ground on Saturday. They take on Everton (3pm kick-off) eager to get back to winning ways after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa last time out.
Nuno was without his two front men at Villa Park, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi both injured. He then lost Anthony Elanga to a knock at half-time and reshuffled his set-up for the second half. In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, the Forest boss said he remained hopeful of having his attacking options bolstered for the meeting with the Toffees.
“We are hopeful on all of them,” he said of Wood, Awoniyi and Elanga. “It can be all of them or it can be none, we don’t know. It depends on how they feel.
” Having top scorer Wood back would be a huge boost. But if either or both of the New Zealander and Awoniyi are fit it would certainly help when it comes to choosing a formation. It was a makeshift set-up in the West Midlands last weekend, with Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi supporting Morgan Gibbs-White at the top end of the pitch.
After a tough first half, it was Jota Silva who came on in place of Elanga and made a difference for the visitors. If the Reds are still without Wood and Awoniyi, Jota must be in contention to start up front this time around. He ruffled a few feathers against Villa and took his goal well, plus operating as a forward is not new to him.
Nuno will still be without full-back Ola Aina, but having Alex Moreno available again after he was ineligible to face parent club Villa should make for a more balanced back line. Forest went with a back three last weekend but it was a difficult afternoon for Morato and it would come as no surprise should Nuno revert to his usual four-man defence. Neco Williams could switch to right-back to allow Moreno to come in on the left.
Against David Moyes’ Everton, midfield could be a key battleground. Nicolas Dominguez did not have a lot of joy when deployed as right wing-back at Villa Park so will be hopeful of being in his more familiar position on this occasion. The Argentine and Elliot Anderson have proved to be an effective partnership in the centre of the pitch.
However, having the physical presence of Ryan Yates in the XI might be a good option. Predicted Forest XI to face Everton: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jota. We have produced a special 48-page edition of the Nottingham Post celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
Nottingham Forest are flying high in the Premier League and Reds fans are dreaming of a return to European competition. It has been an outstanding campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, who are on course for a place in the Champions League next season. And Forest supporters can whet their appetite for a possible return to football’s top tier on the continent with our 48-page special edition celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Nottinghamshire from April, 2 2025. For online order postage and packaging applies, orders will be posted from April 2, 2025.
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