Nuno must not repeat his Nottingham Forest mistake amid Crystal Palace dilemma
Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest return to Premier League action on Monday when Crystal Palace visit the City Ground
by Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveRecording a first home win of the Premier League season will be the aim for Nottingham Forest when they return to action after the international break.
Amid a positive start to the campaign, still being without a victory at the City Ground is the small blot on the copybook for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. It is something they will be eager to put right against Crystal Palace on Monday (8pm kick-off).
But the Reds must find a way of doing so without their head coach on the touchline and without their talisman on the pitch. Both Nuno and Morgan Gibbs-White are suspended for next week’s clash, as is midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
It is unlikely Gibbs-White would have been available for Monday night anyway after suffering an ankle injury in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea. Forest know what it is like to be without the England international; he was sorely missed when he was banned for last month’s 1-0 home defeat to Fulham.
On that occasion, Nuno plumped for an old-school 4-4-2 formation as he looked to cope without his star man. It didn’t work, though, and it seems unlikely there will be a repeat of that decision when Palace come to town.
Even with Ward-Prowse’s unavailability and the fact midfielders Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare remain sidelined, Nuno does still have a few options to cover for the absences. If he sticks with his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, Elliot Anderson and Jota Silva are likely to be battling it out for the No.10 role.
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The latter is yet to start a Premier League game in the Garibaldi but must surely be close to getting his chance after some impressive substitute performances. And with midfielders a little thin on the ground, if Jota does step in for Gibbs-White it would enable Anderson to partner Ryan Yates in the centre of the pitch.
Of course, Nuno could opt for a 4-3-3 formation and have wingers either side of striker Chris Wood. But would a midfield of Yates, Anderson and Nicolas Dominguez offer the right balance?
Anthony Elanga was on the bench for a second successive game in the capital and will be keen to get back into the XI. If Nuno does go with Jota at No.10, it is likely the Sweden international will come back into the XI. An attacking three of Elanga, Jota and Callum Hudson-Odoi has the potential to cause Palace problems.
Taiwo Awoniyi will no doubt also be keen for some game time. The forward did not get on the pitch against Chelsea, despite having made his first Premier League start of the season against Fulham.
Nuno has not ruled out pairing Wood and Awoniyi together again but has admitted some work is required if the partnership is to have a chance of working. Wood has the edge at the moment when it comes to holding down a starting spot, but Awoniyi is certainly capable of coming on and making an impact.
Predicted Forest XI to face Palace: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Jota, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.