Sean Dyche Burnley
Nottingham Forest is gearing up to face Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, aiming to carry forward the momentum from their recent Europa League victory. The match, scheduled for a 2.05 pm kick-off, will see Morgan Gibbs-White returning from a back problem. However, the team continues to grapple with multiple injury concerns, with several key players still sidelined.
Sean Dyche said: “I think it is unlikely. They are making good progress. Two or three of them are probably slightly advanced to where we thought they would be. They are making good progress with the sport science team, but they still need some training with us and to get back into a regular day of training. Hopefully, that will be sooner rather than later, but they are getting closer.”
Dyche continued: “It is just a settling down period. It is a tricky knee injury. It just needs time. There is nothing we can do to fast forward it at the moment. He is feeling better in himself. It is a deloading phase so he can keep some form of fitness but not the pounding. We are waiting for it to settle enough where he can continue his work. It is just a bit of a waiting game at the minute.”
Dyche added: “It’s a hamstring. He’s been back on the grass and is making a good recovery now. He is working very hard with the sports science team. He is over his injury as such but now it is about improving his base fitness levels. He is going well at the minute.”
Despite the return of Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest will be without several key players. Chris Wood, who has previously worked with Dyche, remains out due to a knee injury. The New Zealand international recently underwent another scan to assess his condition, indicating a prolonged recovery period. Meanwhile, Dilane Bakwa, who joined from Strasbourg in the summer, is making strides in his recovery from a hamstring injury but is yet to return to full fitness.
The absence of Douglas Luiz, Taiwo Awoniyi, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ola Aina, Angus Gunn, and youngster Aaron Bott further complicates Dyche’s selection options. However, the manager remains optimistic about their progress, emphasizing the importance of integrating them back into regular training sessions.
As Forest prepares to host Brighton, memories of last season’s emphatic 7-0 victory over the Seagulls linger. While Dyche acknowledges the challenge of replicating such a performance in the Premier League, he remains focused on the task at hand.
Dyche reflected: “That was a magnificent performance last season, it’s not easy in the Premier League. But our players won’t be thinking about that on Sunday.”
With several players still on the mend, Forest will need to rely on their available squad depth to secure a positive result against Brighton. The match promises to be a test of resilience and adaptability as the team navigates through their injury challenges.
About The Author
