The big day is finally here, and Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has had a big decision to make.
Having clinched a place in the play-offs final with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Sheffield United last week, Huddersfield Town now lie in wait for the Reds. The teams will do battle at Wembley today, fighting for a place in the Premier League.
The majority of Cooper’s starting XI picks itself, based on how they have been performing. But there is one particular dilemma for the head coach.
Read more: Nottingham Forest vs Huddersfield TV channel, live stream & how to watch play-off final
Read more: Important Wembley Stadium guidance for Nottingham Forest vs Huddersfield play-off final
Choosing who starts up front is not an easy decision to make. Both Sam Surridge and Keinan Davis have been excellent, and have different qualities to offer.
Davis made his return from a hamstring injury in the first leg of the semi-final against the Blades, and came off the bench again for the return fixture at the City Ground. With a fair bit of time between that last game and this weekend’s clash, he will have had the chance to keep working on his fitness, to put him in contention to start.
Surridge has led the line superbly in the absence of Davis and Lewis Grabban, however. And he has been in fine goalscoring form.
Davis is the more physical of the two, with his power and strength able to cause defences problems. His hold-up play has also been superb.
Surridge, meanwhile, has proved to be a clinical finisher. His off-the-ball work and tireless work ethic are also crucial.
Whoever does start, Cooper will still have a very valuable option to bring off the bench, if Forest are searching for a goal. It will be a close call between the two.
When it comes to the rest of the team, it seems unlikely the head coach will make too many, if any, changes to the side which started against United in both semi-final legs. He has generally stuck with a pretty settled group anyway.
Brice Samba was the hero last time out. And he will likely have the trio of Joe Worrall, Steve Cook and Scott McKenna in front of him again.
With Max Lowe still sidelined, Jack Colback is in line to continue at left wing-back, with Djed Spence on the right. That would leave James Garner and Ryan Yates in the centre of the pitch.
Brennan Johnson will hope to maintain his red-hot form when supporting whoever plays in attack, with Philip Zinckernagel in the No.10 role. The likes of Joe Lolley, Alex Mighten and Cafu could make an impact as substitutions.
Predicted Forest XI: Samba; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback; Zinckernagel; Johnson, Davis.
