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Steve Cooper has had the nigh-on impossible job of attempting to create a tactical and mental cohesion with a newly-promoted side that has signed almost 30 players but his flexibility, switching between systems, has allowed The Reds to get into a position whereby survival seems a formality at this stage.
Following promotion last season, an overhaul of the squad was required, simply to plug evident holes, rather than to try and upgrade on every single member. It received derision but with Forest in mid-table and in the midst of a bit of an injury crisis, it was even more important, it turns out.
Ahead of this match, The Reds are without Dean Henderson, Willy Boly, Scott McKenna, Giulian Biancone, Moussa Niakhate, Serge Aurier, Chris Richards, Cheikhou Kouyate and Taiwo Awoniyi. Richards and Biancone aside, the rest of those players would make a good argument to be in Forest’s best eleven. Ryan Yates, another key player, is a doubt due to illness, whilst Jesse Lingard is also an injury doubt.
Keylor Navas will retain his spot in goal with three of the back four, Renan Lodi, Felipe and Joe Worrall, more or less picking themselves due to the absences. Cooper may be reluctant to go with Neco Williams at right-back away from home but doesn’t really have any other option.
Jack Colback started last week in midfield but finished last season as a left wing-back. In order to ensure Williams is defensively covered, Cooper could opt for a back three of Lodi, Worrall and Felipe with Williams and Colback operating as wing-backs. Remo Freuler and Jonjo Shelvey should start in the middle of either the 4-3-1-2 or 3-4-1-2 system.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson are crucial to Forest having an outlet of genuine quality on the counter attack and they will likely play off Chris Wood, who managed to come off the bench and score Forest’s equaliser against title challenging Manchester City last weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-1-2): Navas; Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Lodi; Shelvey, Freuler, Colback; Gibbs-White; Johnson, Wood
UNAVAILABLE: Henderson (Injured), Boly (Injured), McKenna (Injured), Biancone (Injured), Niakhate (Injured), Aurier (Injured), Richards (Injured), Kouyate (Injured), Awoniyi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Yates (Illness), Lingard (Injured)