ange Postecoglou
Nottingham Forest’s head coach, Ange Postecoglou, is still on the hunt for his first victory with the team. The recent 1-0 defeat against Sunderland marked three losses and two draws in his initial five matches. As Forest prepares for their second Europa League match against Midtjylland on Thursday evening, the team is grappling with several injury concerns, including key players Douglas Luiz, Murillo, and Ola Aina.
Ange Postecoglou said: “Douglas Luiz wasn’t great (on Thursday) so we have sent him for a scan on his hamstring. He won’t be available this weekend. With him, I think we have got to be really careful with how we use him in the early part of the year. He had a lot of issues last year at Juventus and came in late here. We’ll just be cautious with him. We’ll see what the scan says but he definitely won’t be available this week. It’s nothing serious, we know that; it’s nothing significant. But with the international window around the corner, there might be an opportunity for us to really build him up because he’s such a good player and we saw that the other night. It doesn’t feel he’s at peak physical fitness.”
Douglas Luiz, who was handed his third start for Forest against Real Betis, had to be substituted at halftime due to hamstring soreness. The midfielder’s condition did not improve upon returning to the UK, prompting further scans. Postecoglou emphasized the need for caution given Luiz’s previous injury issues at Juventus, suggesting that the upcoming international break could provide a valuable period for recovery and fitness building.
Ange Postecoglou said: “Murillo is still not where we want him to be. He is still doing individual training. We were hoping he would progress a bit quicker, but it was a pretty severe knock on his thigh. We’ve just got to be patient with him. He is out on the grass and working individually. It is just a matter of incorporating him back into the team.”
Murillo, another key player, is also sidelined due to a thigh injury. Having attempted to continue playing after receiving treatment during a match, Murillo was eventually replaced and has since been undergoing individual training. Postecoglou acknowledged the severity of the injury and stressed the importance of patience in his recovery process.
Ola Aina said on Instagram: “Surgery went really well and recovery is going smoothly. A massive thank you to the club @officialnffc, my teammates, and all the fans for the incredible support over the past few days, it’s meant a lot. I’ll be working hard every day to get back out there as soon as possible and can’t wait to be back on the pitch at the City Ground. See you soon. It’s gonna be alright.”
Ola Aina, who sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria, is expected to be out for at least three months. Aina underwent successful surgery and expressed gratitude to the club and fans for their support. His absence has led to his exclusion from Forest’s 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the season, with Taiwo Awoniyi reportedly taking his place.
As Nottingham Forest prepares for their upcoming clash with Midtjylland, Postecoglou will need to navigate these injury challenges carefully. The potential for lineup changes remains as the team aims to balance a demanding fixture schedule while seeking their first win under the new head coach.
About The Author
