Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is facing a few uncertainties for Saturday’s Premier League showdown with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The Tricky Trees managed to get the better of Manchester United by a goal to nil in midweek, but neither Chris Wood (hip) nor Callum Hudson-Odoi (personal) were available for the win.
In addition, Ola Aina was withdrawn in the first half with a calf injury, one that could hardly have come at a less opportune time given that Villa loanee Alex Moreno is ineligible for this encounter.
Neco Williams is at least a viable alternative at right-back, but if Aina does not make the cut, Santo must choose between the seldom-seen Harry Toffolo and Morato – a centre-back by trade – to step in at left-back.
The latter will likely be given the nod to join Williams, Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic in that scenario, while Nicolas Dominguez is primed to return in the engine room alongside Elliot Anderson as Ryan Yates makes way.
Neither Hudson-Odoi nor Wood have been ruled out of this fixture yet, but the former is presumably in with a better chance of making the cut and should demote Danilo down to the substitutes’ bench.
However, Taiwo Awoniyi is a competent alternative to Wood in the final third, where Morgan Gibbs-White and the midweek match-winner Anthony Elanga will also operate.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi
> Click here to see how Aston Villa could line up for this match
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