Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Chelsea in this afternoon’s clash.
The Reds will be aiming to start 2023 in style at the City Ground, having been beaten on their return to Premier League action after the World Cup break. Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford brought an end to a three-match winning streak in all competitions.
Ahead of today’s game, Forest sit 19th in the table, one point adrift of 17th-placed West Ham United. They also find themselves without some key players as injuries are taking their toll.
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Jesse Lingard was forced off against his former club in midweek, having been playing with heavy strapping on his right thigh. And he is not included in the match squad for today’s match. However, Morgan Gibbs-White returns to the starting XI after missing the last two games.
Dean Henderson returns in goal, having been ineligible to play against his parent team at Old Trafford. Ahead of him, Serge Aurier retains his place at right-back, with Renan Lodi on the left. Joe Worrall and Willy Boly are the centre-back pairing.
Remo Freuler, Orel Mangala and Ryan Yates once again make up the midfield. At the top end of the pitch, Gibbs-White will support Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Wayne Hennessey, Steve Cook, Neco Williams, Jack Colback, Lewis O’Brien, Harry Toffolo, Sam Surridge, Emmanuel Dennis and Scott McKenna make up the list of substitutes.
Forest: Henderson; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Freuler, Mangala, Yates; Gibbs-White; Johnson, Awoniyi.
Subs: Hennessey, Cook, Williams, Colback, O’Brien, Toffolo, Surridge, Dennis, McKenna.
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