£300,000-a-week quartet axed as McNeil and Wood decisions made – Nottingham Forest v Everton Predicted XIs
Nottingham Forest and Everton will go head-to-head in the Premier League at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon as both sides look to continue their fine seasons.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are currently third in the top-flight and pushing for Champions League football, but suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last time out. David Moyes’ side on the other hand are in mid-table but aren’t looking over their shoulder at a relegation battle, and held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in their last outing.
Both sides have injury concerns ahead of the game which will leave the managers with decisions to make, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expect the teams to line up.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Wood doubtful
The Tricky Trees have been in excellent form for the majority of the campaign, with New Zealand international Chris Wood having a fine individual season. But he has missed the last three games in all competitions and remains doubtful after an injury on international duty.
Taiwo Awoniyi and Anthony Elanga are also doubts with knocks, while Ola Aina is ruled out with a calf problem. Alex Moreno is able to return though, having been ineligible to face his parent club last weekend.
Espirito Santo Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Nuno shared an update on the squad ahead of the game.
“We are still assessing all of them. They are struggling with problems, some small, some not so small. We have one more day and then we will see if they are available for the game. It could be all of them, it could be none. It depends on how they recover and how they feel.”
Nottingham Forest Predicted XI
Moreno returns to the team
With no traditional centre-forward, attacker Jota Silva could be trusted to start as the number nine in the absence of Awoniyi and Wood following his goal against Aston Villa.
Danilo could come into the starting lineup to add athleticism, leaving £125,000-a-week duo Ryan Yates and Ibrahim Sangare on the bench.
Everton Team News
Calvert-Lewin still unavailable
The Toffees are still without star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is recovering from a hamstring injury, as question marks over his future emerge with just months remaining on his contract with the club.
Jesper Lindstrom is unlikely to return as he suffers from a hernia, while Vitalii Mykolenko is a doubt for the game after missing last week’s clash with the Gunners. Orel Mangala won’t feature again this season due to an ACL injury.
Moyes Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Moyes shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“We’ve got Myko [Mykolenko] back on the grass training, Dwight [McNeil] is back and we’re still trying to get them up to speed but they’re certainly in and around things. No, I don’t think so [McNeil ready to start].
“Unfortunately, Jesper has had a hernia operation yesterday [Thursday], so that will rule Jesper out, probably for most of the season now. That’s disappointing for him and for us because he started to show some decent form in the past month or so and he was an important player for us.
“Dom is out on the grass and he’s training well. I think because it’s been a hamstring injury, it’s not the sort of thing we can speed it up greatly and rush him back – we’re trying to follow all the protocols with it and try not to bring him back too quickly, but we’re roughly thinking about another three weeks before we’re even talking about him getting back into.
“I’m not sure about full-time training or games yet, I’m not sure. But we certainly think he’s got another three weeks before we can start mentioning him.”
Everton Predicted XI
McNeil to return to the side
With McNeil not yet ready to start Jack Harrison should keep his place on the wing, while Mykolenko should come back into the team at left-back.
That should see £175,000-a-week trio Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young and Michael Keane all named on the bench.
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