Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Newcastle United in tonight’s big clash.
In the Reds’ final game before the international break, they will be aiming to make it 10 games unbeaten at home in the Premier League. The last time they didn’t at least pick up a point at the City Ground was back in mid-September.
However, Cooper’s side are without a win in five after last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. They sit 14th in the table, with their cushion above the relegation spots down to two points.
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Brennan Johnson had been forced off with a groin problem in north London and was a doubt to face the Magpies, but he is included in the starting line-up. As is Ryan Yates, for the first time since returning from illness, while Moussa Niakhate makes his comeback from a hamstring injury which has sidelined him since August.
Cooper makes four changes to the side which lost to Spurs. Niakhate comes in for Joe Worrall to partner Felipe in the heart of defence, with Serge Aurier and Renan Lodi on either side, ahead of goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
It looks to be a change in formation for the hosts as Yates and Jonjo Shelvey make up the midfield, with Remo Freuler and Orel Mangala missing out - the latter not being included in the squad at all. In attack, Johnson will join Morgan Gibbs-White and Emmanuel Dennis in supporting front man Andre Ayew.
In addition to Worrall and Freuler, the bench will be made up of Wayne Hennessey, Neco Williams, Jack Colback, Harry Toffolo, Sam Surridge, Danilo and Gustavo Scarpa.
Forest: Navas; Aurier, Felipe, Niakhate, Lodi; Yates, Shelvey; Johnson, Gibbs-White, Dennis; Ayew. Subs: Hennessey, Worrall, Williams, Colback, Toffolo, Surridge, Freuler, Danilo, Scarpa.
What do you make of the Forest XI? Have your say in the comments below
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