Nottingham Forest will be aiming to continue their encouraging start to the Premier League season when they host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The Reds have picked up four points from their first three games back in the top-flight, beating West Ham United at the City Ground and returning with a point from last weekend’s trip to Everton. Meanwhile, a midweek Carabao Cup tie at Grimsby Town saw Steve Cooper’s side ease into the next round with a 3-0 win on Tuesday night.
Cooper changed his entire starting XI for that clash, with a hectic run of games at the forefront of his mind. Nevertheless, a number of players staked a claim to be involved against Spurs as they put in some impressive performances.
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The Forest head coach rarely makes too many changes to his team week to week. While his side will be different to that which lined up at Blundell Park, more than likely, only a few, if any, tweaks will be made to that which took to the pitch against the Toffees. The competition for a starting spot is fierce, though.
Cooper has suggested he would consider a formation change, if it fitted with his game plan - either making alterations from an attacking or defensive perspective. “We definitely have that option. And we have the variety of player and profile of player that gives us that option,” he told NottinghamshireLive.
“That can be from a risk taking point of view, an attacking point of view, but also a defending point of view as well - sometimes you might need to be a bit more efficient in games. It’s not just about changing players and teams to be more attacking, it can sometimes be the opposite.”
The Welshman has generally stuck with a 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-2-1 system, however - including in FA Cup games against top-flight opposition last season. He is hot on consistency, building momentum and establishing a winning mentality which plays to his team’s strengths.
Making their full debuts, Giulian Biancone and Cheikhou Kouyate both did well in a back three in midweek. That will have given Cooper food for thought amid the injury to Moussa Niakhate.
Midfield presents a particular dilemma, with Forest well stocked in that department. Ryan Yates helped change the game when he came on last weekend, then scored a cracker against the Mariners. Remo Freuler looked a class act on his first appearance on Tuesday. Orel Mangala had caught the eye at Goodison Park before being forced off, with Cooper putting his substitution down to “fatigue” rather than injury. And Lewis O’Brien has slotted in seamlessly since his move from Huddersfield Town.
The Reds also have Jack Colback, who has been absent due to illness, and Cafu, who weighed in with two assists in the cup. Choosing who plays is tough, although the manager could consider changing shape and putting an extra body in midfield to provide protection against tough opponents.
How the hosts will set up in attack is also tough to call. Like Yates, Morgan Gibbs-White made a difference from off the bench against Everton. And Sam Surridge offered a reminder of just how deadly a finisher he is with a well-taken brace at Grimsby.
Predicted Forest XI: Henderson; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Williams, Mangala, Yates, Toffolo; Gibbs-White; Johnson, Awoniyi.
What would your Forest XI be? Have your say in the comments below
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