Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Valencia in the Reds’ final pre-season friendly.
Forest take on their Spanish opponents at Notts County’s Meadow Lane (6pm kick-off), in what is their last run-out before making their Premier League return. It will be a tough test for Cooper’s men, ahead of their opening game at Newcastle United in a week’s time.
A young side played the Magpies in midweek, although striker Sam Surridge and midfielder Ryan Yates did make their comebacks from injury. There was no Jesse Lingard on Tuesday night, but the former Manchester United man does make his debut tonight.
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Lingard comes straight into the starting line-up this evening, getting his first minutes in the Garibaldi. And Surridge is also in the XI as he builds up his fitness following groin surgery at the end of last term.
Dean Henderson is in goal for the Reds, with a back three of Joe Worrall, Steve Cook and Scott McKenna in front of him. Neco Williams and Harry Toffolo take up the wing-back roles.
Jack Colback and Lewis O’Brien will be in midfield, with Lingard in the no.10 role. Surridge partners Brennan Johnson up front. The substitutes' bench is made up of Jordan Smith, George Shelvey, Giulian Biancone, Loic Mbe Soh, Taiwo Awoniyi, Richie Laryea, Alex Mighten, Cafu, Moussa Niakhate, Lyle Taylor, Billy Fewster and Oli Hammond.
Forest: Henderson; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; Williams, Colback, O’Brien, Toffolo; Lingard; Johnson, Surridge. Subs: Smith, Shelvey, Biancone, Mbe Soh, Awoniyi, Laryea, Mighten, Cafu, Niakhate, Taylor, Fewster, Hammond.
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