Nottingham Forest are back in action today as they prepare for their fourth Premier League game of the season, welcoming high-flying Tottenham Hotspur to the City Ground.
The Tricky Trees boast a mixed but satisfactory start to the season, with a win, draw and defeat apiece, although a win today would see them draw level on points with the Lilywhites.
Steve Cooper’s men recorded an impressive 1-1 draw against Everton last week, thus proving that the victory against West Ham United six days previously was no flash in the pan.
They will be looking to frustrate Antonio Conte’s side, who narrowly defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
The 42-year-old again has some injuries to contend with, along with plenty more new signings to consider integrating into his team.
With that in mind, here’s the starting XI that we’re predicting today for the Reds…
There could be as many as ten changes from the Forest side which swept Grimsby aside in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
In goal, the usual number one Dean Henderson is set to continue after his stellar display against the Toffees last week. It would also be a surprise to see any of the back five change from the Everton game, as Moussa Niakhate still seems unlikely to return after he was forced off against the Hammers.
With Cooper being coy on the severity of that injury, Steve Cook will likely continue alongside Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna, all of whom were rested in midweek, as were wing-backs Harry Toffolo and Neco Williams.
The midfield is where we are likely to see the only bit of consistency from the team which faced Grimsby, as Remo Freuler has finally had his introduction with a full 90 minutes on Tuesday. We could see him handed his Premier League debut alongside Lewis O’Brien today.
The “special” Morgan Gibbs-White could also be handed a start, as he impressed off the bench against Everton last weekend. He was involved with some neat touches, racking up 20 in just under half an hour on the pitch; he could replace the toothless Jesse Lingard, who did not record a single shot at Goodison Park.
Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi will likely come back in after their midweek rests, although Emmanuel Dennis will surely be ready to battle with them now that he has had his club debut against Grimsby.
from FootballFanCast.com https://ift.tt/lLZfDoN
via IFTTT