Head coach Steve Cooper has named his Nottingham Forest team to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in today’s crunch clash.
The Reds go into the fixture looking to end a six-match winless run which has left them dangerously close to the relegation zone. With 11 games to go, they are 16th in the table, two points above the dreaded dotted line.
However, it is incredibly tight at that end of the table. Four points separate the bottom nine clubs, with Wolves just one point above Forest.
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Cooper’s side saw a nine-match unbeaten run at home in the league ended by Newcastle United last time out. And they have had to contend with mixed news on the injury front from the international break.
Striker Chris Wood has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Brennan Johnson, Serge Aurier, Gustavo Scarpa, Ryan Yates and Andre Ayew were classed as doubts for this afternoon.
All except Johnson are included in the starting XI, with Aurier, Scarpa and Yates missing out on the match squad completely. Cheikhou Kouyate and Taiwo Awoniyi are included among the substitutes as they look to make their comebacks from injury.
Cooper makes five changes to the side which started against the Magpies. Neco Williams, Harry Toffolo, Danilo, Remo Freuler and Orel Mangala all come into the line-up.
Williams takes the place of Aurier at right-back, with Toffolo on the left as Renan Lodi drops to the bench. Moussa Niakhate retains his place at centre-back, having made his return last time out, with Felipe alongside him, ahead of goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Danilo, captain Freuler and Mangala make up the midfield, while Johnson will support Morgan Gibbs-White and Emmanuel Dennis in attack. Joining Ayew, Awoniyi, Kouyate and Lodi on the bench will be Wayne Hennessey, Joe Worrall, Jonjo Shelvey, Jack Colback and Sam Surridge.
Forest: Navas; Williams, Felipe, Niakhate, Toffolo; Danilo, Freuler, Mangala; Johnson, Gibbs-White, Dennis. Subs: Hennessey, Worrall, Shelvey, Colback, Awoniyi, Surridge, Kouyate, Lodi, Ayew.
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