Danilo out, Dominguez in – Nottingham Forest predicted XI as Nuno faces key Newcastle calls
Danilo out, Dominguez in – Nottingham Forest predicted XI as Nuno faces key Newcastle calls
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he had a few regrets after Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Fulham last weekend.
Understandably, the Portuguese opted to go with the same XI from the Reds’ previous Premier League game when they had thrashed Brighton and Hove Albion 7-0. Same line-up but a completely different outcome at Craven Cottage.
This time around, Forest lost 2-1 and Nuno conceded his decision to stick with a back three “didn’t work out”. The result and performance will have left him with plenty to ponder.
“There are so many things I would do differently now,” the Reds boss said after the full-time whistle in the capital. “Now it is about looking at the game and preparing for the next one. It is always the same.”
The next one doesn’t get any easier. Forest have a big run of fixtures as the business end of the season looms on the horizon, with a trip to face Newcastle United on Sunday (2pm kick-off) first up.
After the clash at St James’ Park, Nuno’s men have home games against Arsenal and Manchester City in the league. It could be a decisive period in the Reds’ hopes of retaining a top-four spot, with the gap to fourth-placed City now down to three points.
Nuno will know getting his tactics and line-up right against the Magpies will be key. It would come as little surprise if he decides to revert to his tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation, which would likely mean Morato being the one to miss out from a place in the back line.
Nuno might also have a decision to make in midfield. Against the Cottagers, Danilo and Elliot Anderson occupied the spots in the centre of the pitch.
That particular combination had proved effective against the Seagulls but the visitors struggled to get a grip on proceedings in the capital. Danilo, in particular, looked a little off the pace having also started the midweek FA Cup tie with Exeter City a few days earlier.
Anderson is a sure-fire bet to start against his former club, having made the move to the City Ground from Newcastle last summer. Who lines up alongside him, though, is up for debate.
Ibrahim Sangare has started one game since his comeback from a lengthy period on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, and that was against the Grecians in Devon. Nicolas Dominguez or Ryan Yates could get the nod if Nuno does mix things up in the north east.
Another big call to be made surrounds the fitness of Callum Hudson-Odoi. The winger came off the bench on Saturday after missing the previous three matches with a groin problem.
If he is fit to start, Hudson-Odoi will almost certainly come into the XI – particularly if Nuno switches formation. If the 24-year-old is not quite ready, it might be that Ramon Sosa steps in if the decision is to go with a 4-2-3-1.
Meanwhile, Forest will also be waiting to see if striker Taiwo Awoniyi is cleared to feature. The Nigerian was ruled out against Fulham as the club observed concussion protocols after he was involved in a nasty clash of heads in the FA Cup tie.
Nuno said afterwards he was hopeful Awoniyi could be involved this weekend. The forward has been in the process of having a protective mask fitted after breaking his nose in the collision. Although it is unlikely he would start, just having him in the squad again would boost the attacking options on the bench.
Forest predicted XI to face Newcastle: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
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