Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo remained tight-lipped about his squad selection dilemmas ahead of Tuesday night’s showdown with Manchester United.
Forest have been in sensational form this season, currently sitting third in the Premier League with just nine matches left to play. However, recent injury concerns have cast a shadow over their campaign, with two key players facing setbacks.
Morgan Gibbs-White picked up a knock after crashing into the post during their FA Cup quarter-final victory over Brighton, while Chris Wood was sidelined for that match due to a hip injury sustained while on international duty with New Zealand.
When asked about Gibbs-White’s condition, Espirito Santo told reporters on Monday that the midfielder’s fitness would be monitored closely, with a final decision expected by Tuesday afternoon ahead of their clash with United.
‘We need to assess many of the players. We are doing this,’ said the Forest boss. ‘The game is later on in the day, so we will have the rest of today, the morning and the afternoon to assess the players. We will make a decision on them then.
On Wood’s progress, he added: ‘He is improving. He is getting better day by day.
‘We have to assess him every day. It is all about him being pain free and then getting back to fitness. We are recovering well.
‘The joy and the happiness of coming through and getting to play at Wembley will give us an extra run for tomorrow, for sure.’
After enduring 120 minutes against Brighton on Saturday, followed by a tense penalty shootout victory, Nottingham Forest have had little time to recover. The demanding schedule has taken its toll, and manager Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledges the challenge it poses for his squad.
‘It’s very difficult on the players but we see them and they are recovering well,’ he said. ‘They are always being positive so we are confident we can perform again against a good team.
‘In this short turnaround, it is all about recovering. We’re going to be OK.’
Every match is crucial for Nottingham Forest as they chase an unexpected Champions League spot, making it essential for the manager to have his key players back—though not at the cost of aggravating their injuries.
Following the Manchester United clash at the City Ground, Forest face a tough run of fixtures, including a trip to Aston Villa, a home game against Everton, and an away test at Tottenham, all leading up to a massive FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on April 26.
Despite concerns over two of his stars, Espirito Santo can take some relief in knowing that Callum Hudson-Odoi will be fit and available for Tuesday’s showdown.
‘He’s improving. He has had some outstanding performances this season and is getting better and better,’ his manager said of the winger. ‘You have to have pleasure and enjoy who you work with and Callum is a happy boy playing and working with his team-mates.’
