Now the World Cup is over, all eyes are on the resumption of the domestic season - with Nottingham Forest back in action on Wednesday night.
First up for the Reds is a Carabao Cup clash against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Head coach Steve Cooper is keen to progress further in the competition, and his side will be eager to pick up from where they left off before the break, having built up some momentum.
Forest fans look set to outnumber the home crowd for the fourth round tie. And it is likely to be a strong visiting line-up named.
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Cooper does face some selection dilemmas, however. He will be hoping Morgan Gibbs-White, Serge Aurier and Jack Colback are available after picking up knocks during the latter stages of the team’s preparations. However, no risks will be taken if there is even the slightest doubt over fitness.
There is a call to be made over who starts in goal. Given Dean Henderson is ineligible to play in the Reds’ first Premier League game back, against parent club Manchester United on December 27, it could be that Wayne Hennessey is given a run-out with the trip to Old Trafford in mind.
At the back, Cooper has used several different central defensive combinations during the four winter friendlies. Prior to the break, Joe Worrall and Willy Boly had held down their places for the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, having done well against Tottenham Hotspur in the last round of the cup. Steve Cook and Scott McKenna had been the go-to partnership before that, though.
If Cooper doesn’t want to take a risk with Aurier, Neco Williams could take up the right-back position. Or the Wales international is an option on the left, along with Renan Lodi and Harry Toffolo.
In midfield, Cheikhou Kouyate’s hamstring injury is a blow but opens the door for somebody else to get their chance. Both Orel Mangala and Lewis O’Brien will be pushing to be involved, with Ryan Yates and Remo Freuler having been regular starters.
How the visitors will line up in attack is tough to call. Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis got on the scoresheet in the final winter friendly against Valencia, securing a 2-1 victory. Sam Surridge will be in contention, too, given he started against Spurs in the last round and did well from off the bench in Spain.
Cooper hasn’t always gone with a recognised striker, however. He could plump for the trio of Jesse Lingard, Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson which started in the last league game before the break - and if he does play a forward, deciding which of those three to leave out will not be an easy decision.
Predicted Forest XI: Hennessey; Williams, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Yates, Mangala, Freuler; Lingard; Johnson, Awoniyi.
How should the Reds line up against Rovers? Have your say in the comments below
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