It's crunch time for Nottingham Forest's survival hopes as they prepare to return to action after the international break.
Just four points separate the bottom nine clubs, with the Reds in the thick of the fight to avoid relegation. They sit two points above the drop zone with 11 games remaining.
Wolverhampton Wanderers visit the City Ground on Saturday for what is a key clash for Steve Cooper's side. The Forest head coach has some tough selection decisions to make, and he is also sweating on the fitness of a number of players.
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Brennan Johnson, Andre Ayew, Serge Aurier and Gustavo Scarpa are all doubts for this weekend, while Cooper has been coy over whether Ryan Yates will be available for selection after taking a blow to his shoulder during the defeat to Newcastle United last time out. Additionally, Chris Wood has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a thigh problem.
On the flip side, the Reds will hope Taiwo Awoniyi and Cheikhou Kouyate are close to making their comebacks. Whether the duo are in contention to start against Wolves remains to be seen, but either way, Cooper’s options will be affected by which players get the green light to feature.
If Aurier isn’t fit, Neco Williams would likely get the nod at right-back. Elsewhere in the back line, the Forest boss must decide whether Moussa Niakhate keeps his place in the centre of the defence.
The summer signing, who made his international debut for Senegal during the break, replaced Joe Worrall in the XI against the Magpies as he made his comeback from a hamstring injury which had sidelined him since August. It didn’t end the way he would have liked, however, with Niakhate’s handball giving the visitors the chance to claim victory with a penalty in the dying minutes.
In midfield, it would be a blow if Yates is absent, having previously been a big miss while out with illness. Cooper tweaked his usual formation in the final match before the break, plumping for two, rather than three, in the centre of the pitch. That allowed for an extra man in attack, but whether he sticks with that system might depend on the fitness of Johnson, Ayew and Awoniyi.
Midfielders Remo Freuler and Orel Mangala missed out against Newcastle, but are options to come back in this weekend. January signing Danilo will no doubt be hoping for more minutes in the remaining matches - likewise, Scarpa, if/when fit - and Forest also have Jack Colback as a possibility.
How the Reds line up at the top end of the pitch presents a dilemma. Last time, Cooper deployed Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White and Emmanuel Dennis in support of Ayew.
If Ayew is out, and if Awoniyi is not fit to start, Sam Surridge could come into contention for Saturday. Jesse Lingard was not in the squad for the last game, but will surely hope to be involved to some degree this time around. Meanwhile, after being handed a rare start in the 2-1 defeat, Dennis will hope he did enough to retain his spot after getting on the scoresheet.
Predicted Forest XI (assuming all of those who are injury doubts are not fit and Kouyate and Awoniyi are not able to start): Navas; Williams, Felipe, Niakhate, Lodi; Shelvey, Freuler, Mangala; Gibbs-White, Surridge, Dennis.
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