Head coach Steve Cooper has a lengthy injury list to contend with as Nottingham Forest prepare for their first game of 2023.
The Reds are already without long-term absentees Moussa Niakhate, Omar Richards, Giulian Biancone and Cheikhou Kouyate. And with Jesse Lingard a doubt for Sunday’s match against Chelsea - along with Morgan Gibbs-White being sidelined for “a little while” - Cooper could be short of options at the top end of the pitch.
Lingard and Gibbs-White had been key as Forest’s form improved before the World Cup break. Both had begun to hit their stride and had opened their goalscoring accounts for the club.
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Gibbs-White has not been involved since the season resumed, missing the Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers and Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester United. He picked up a calf problem during the winter friendly against Valencia.
Lingard, meanwhile, started against his former club in midweek but had heavy strapping around his right thigh and was forced off in the second half. Cooper says he will give the 30-year-old every chance of being available at the City Ground, but the manager will not want to take any risks if there is even the slightest doubt about his fitness.
If Lingard does get the green light, he would almost certainly join Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi in the starting XI. If he is not fit, however, Cooper could turn to Emmanuel Dennis. The former Watford man is capable of playing a wider role, or he could start in a front two alongside Awoniyi, with Johnson as a No.10.
With Gustavo Scarpa ineligible to play until the trip to Southampton, midfield options are also limited. However, if the Reds boss does want to mix things up, he could bring in Lewis O’Brien.
It will be interesting to see what, if any, changes are made at the back. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson will come back in, having been unable to play against his parent club, but how the defence in front of him will look is tough to call.
Joe Worrall and Willy Boly kept their places as the centre-back pairing in midweek. Cooper was not happy with the goals conceded, though, so might consider making changes. Steve Cook and Scott McKenna had been the preferred partnership earlier in the season.
Making a switch at full-back is also a possibility. Neco Williams could feel a bit hard done by to have missed out against United. And although Renan Lodi put in the ball from which Ryan Yates had a goal ruled out, he struggled with delivery from set-pieces.
Predicted Forest XI: Henderson; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Williams; Yates, Freuler, Mangala; Johnson, Awoniyi, Dennis.
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