Sean Dyche Burnley
Nottingham Forest are optimistic about the return of centre-back Murillo for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Brazilian defender was a late withdrawal from the squad in their recent 3-1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road due to a calf injury sustained during training. This unforeseen circumstance forced head coach Sean Dyche to make a last-minute defensive reshuffle.
Sean Dyche said: “It’s his calf, so we’ll wait and see. We think he’s got a chance (for Wednesday). We don’t think it’s too serious. Pulling out late wasn’t ideal for us, obviously. We had to change the format and make all these (selection) decisions last minute. That’s sometimes the way it is, it’s no one’s fault and certainly not his.”
In Murillo’s absence, Morato took his place alongside Nikola Milenkovic in the heart of the defense. The reshuffled lineup also saw centre-back Zach Abbott playing as a right-back, while Ola Aina switched to the left to cover for the suspended Neco Williams. The match against Leeds was crucial as both teams were level on points, with the opportunity to move nine points clear of the relegation zone. However, it was Leeds who capitalized on this chance, leaving Forest to focus on their next challenge against Wolves.
Sean Dyche added: “When we got here, we were two points in the relegation zone. Now, we are six points out of it. The work continues. I wasn’t getting carried away when we beat Liverpool 3-0. I wasn’t getting carried away when we beat Tottenham 3-0 and people were saying it was one of the best performances they’d seen from this team in the Premier League. My messages often stay the same. The work is still the work and still has to be done. I know if we had won, the work still wouldn’t be done. There is a lot of football still to be played. I look at whether the work is done at the end of the season, not when we win or lose a game.”
The absence of Murillo was felt in the match against Leeds, as his presence in defense has been pivotal for Forest this season. His potential return for the clash against Wolves is seen as a significant boost for the team, especially as they navigate through a crucial phase of the season. The upcoming match at the City Ground presents another opportunity for Forest to secure vital points in their battle to stay clear of the relegation zone.
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