Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Sarah Clapson

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper names his team for play-offs clash with Sheffield United

Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Sheffield United in the play-offs semi-final first leg at Bramall Lane.

As expected, it is a much-changed line-up to the one which started at Hull City on the final day of the regular Championship season a week ago. A last-minute equaliser in that one meant the Reds had to settle for a 1-1 draw and a fourth-placed finish, setting up a tie with the Blades in the battle to reach Wembley.

Cooper had been keen not to take any risks with players against the Tigers, also opting to rest a few after a hectic fixture schedule. But he still had injury concerns over Jack Colback and Ryan Yates ahead of the play-offs.

Read more: Follow the action LIVE from Bramall Lane

Read more: Riverside views and St Andrew's sadness mark out best and worst Forest away days

Both make the XI against United, however. Seven changes in total are made from last weekend’s clash.

Steve Cook had been left out of the squad at Hull, both for personal reasons and due to a head injury. He returns to the back line today, though, linking up with Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba.

Colback comes back into the team at left wing-back, with Djed Spence on the right. And Yates will partner James Garner in the centre of the pitch.

Philip Zinckernagel will support Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge in attack. But there is a huge boost for Forest as Keinan Davis is named on the bench.

The striker suffered a hamstring injury in the defeat at Luton Town last month, but he is fit enough to be included among the substitutes. Joining him are Ethan Horvath, Tobias Figueiredo, Richie Laryea, Alex Mighten, Cafu and Joe Lolley.

Forest: Samba; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback; Zinckernagel; Johnson, Surridge: Horvath, Figueiredo, Davis, Laryea, Mighten, Cafu, Lolley.

What do you make of the Forest team? Have your say in the comments below

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.