Nottingham Forest is gearing up for a pivotal stretch in the Premier League as they aim to secure a top-five finish and a coveted spot in the Champions League. Despite a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team remains focused on their league campaign. With five crucial matches remaining, the Reds are preparing to face Brentford at the City Ground on Thursday. However, injuries to key players pose a significant challenge for the team.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “He got injured with the Germany Under-19 national team, in their second game. He has been out for two or three weeks now. I don’t know how many hours he spends at the training ground receiving treatment, so we are trying to have him back as soon as possible.”
Ola Aina said: “Hopefully, yeah. I’m just taking it day by day, to be fair. I tore my calf but not too bad, though. It was a little grade 2 so it’s not a bad one.”
Ola Aina, who suffered a calf injury earlier this month, remains a concern for Forest. The full-back went down without any challenge during a match against Manchester United and has since been sidelined. Despite his absence from the last four games, including the FA Cup semi-final, there is optimism about his return before the season concludes. Aina, who has been seen using crutches, is hopeful of making a comeback soon, as he continues to receive treatment and monitor his recovery closely.
In addition to Aina, young defender Eric da Silva Moreira is also dealing with an injury sustained while playing for Germany Under-19s. Although he was on the bench for Forest’s match against Aston Villa, he has not featured since, leaving Nuno Espirito Santo with a shortage of full-backs. The manager confirmed Moreira’s injury occurred during an international fixture, and the player has been out for several weeks.
Zach Abbott, another promising talent, started in the semi-final against Manchester City and impressed with his performance. Despite the team’s defeat, Abbott walked off unaided and appeared in good spirits during post-match interviews, suggesting he is fit and ready for upcoming challenges.
As Nottingham Forest prepares for their crucial encounter against Brentford, the team is determined to overcome these injury setbacks and continue their pursuit of Champions League qualification. With a strong focus on recovery and strategic planning, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side is poised to tackle the remaining fixtures with resilience and ambition.
