Sean Dyche Burnley
Nottingham Forest is gearing up for a pivotal Europa League encounter in the Netherlands, aiming to rebound from a recent defeat against Everton. A victory in this midweek fixture could significantly bolster their chances of securing a top-eight finish in the league phase. However, the team will be without key players Ryan Yates and Matz Sels, who are sidelined due to injuries. Yates suffered a hamstring injury during the match against Everton, while Sels has been left out as a precautionary measure ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Sean Dyche said: “Yatesy has got a situation with his hamstring that isn’t going to be quick. We don’t think it’s too serious in the sense that he needs anything doing, but I think it’s going to be a slow one. We will wait and see. He has been pushing for a start; we know that. He has played very well when he has been needed – he certainly played well against Malmo. It was very unfortunate. It was one of those strange ones where there wasn’t a lot to it and he just pulled up. It’s very unfortunate for him. Just as we are getting bodies back, you are hoping to not lose any more and unfortunately we have lost him for a bit.”
Dyche continued: “Matz has got a tight groin. We are going to have to be careful with that one. Woody is making progress, which is good. He is on the grass and has had a couple of days on the grass. It is still a bit of a slow-burner; it is not going to be immediate, but he is back out there and is just starting the process, so that is good news. We are going to have to make sure we can build them back into what you would call total fitness by using as many bodies as we can.”
Despite these setbacks, Forest’s squad sees the return of several players, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz, and Dilane Bakwa, who have all been included in the traveling squad. Centre-back Murillo is also back in contention after recovering from a hamstring issue and a virus that kept him out of the last three games. However, the team still faces a lengthy injury list, with striker Chris Wood among those making gradual progress in his recovery from a knee injury.
The absence of Yates and Sels presents a challenge for Dyche, who must carefully manage his squad’s fitness levels while ensuring competitiveness in both domestic and European competitions. The inclusion of experienced players like Zinchenko and Luiz could provide the necessary depth and stability as Forest seeks to navigate this demanding period.
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