Nottingham Forest are gearing up for their crucial Premier League encounter against West Ham United this Sunday, with a 2.15 pm kick-off. As they aim to finish the season on a high note, the Reds are dealing with a series of injuries that could impact their Champions League aspirations. The recent 2-2 draw against Leicester City was a setback, and the team is now assessing the fitness of several key players.
Nuno said: “Unfortunately we had to play the last 10 minutes with one man less. T (Awoniyi) gave it a go but it was too painful for him to really push and help the team. There was a misunderstanding between the coaching staff and the medical department. We had the heads up to make a sub, then T tried but he could not.”
Taiwo Awoniyi, the Reds’ striker, suffered an abdominal injury after colliding with a post during the match against Leicester City. Despite receiving treatment and attempting to continue, Awoniyi was visibly struggling in the final minutes of the game. His condition remains a concern as the team prepares for their upcoming fixture.
Nuno said: “He has been able to do part of the training sessions. But we still have to assess him tomorrow better. He is doing part of the training session, not the full session.”
Defender Murillo is also on the injury list with a suspected hamstring issue. He required treatment during the Leicester match and was substituted in the 81st minute. Although he has participated in partial training sessions, his availability for the West Ham game is uncertain.
Nuno said: “He is improving but he is not going to be available for this game. Hopefully he can feature again this season.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi, who also suffered a hamstring injury, was replaced by Nicolas Dominguez during the Leicester match and missed the subsequent game. While he is showing signs of improvement, Hudson-Odoi will not be fit to play against West Ham.
Nuno said of Moreira earlier this month: “He got injured with the Germany Under-19 national team, in their second game. He has been out for two or three weeks now.”
Young defender Eric da Silva Moreira sustained an injury while representing Germany Under-19s. Although he was on the bench for Forest’s defeat at Aston Villa, he has not featured since and remains sidelined.
These injuries present a significant challenge for Nottingham Forest as they strive to secure a strong finish to the season. The team’s depth will be tested as they face West Ham, and the coaching staff will need to make strategic decisions to compensate for the absences.
