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Nott'm Forestvs.Spurs

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 December 2024, 14:02
Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will be reuniting with the club he managed for 17 games when Tottenham Hotspur visit the City Ground for a Boxing Day Premier League battle.

The Tricky Trees are only expected to be missing three players when Spurs come to visit, as Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring) are continuing their recoveries, while Nicolas Dominguez is suspended.

Santo surprisingly tinkered with a successful formation against Brentford, bringing in an extra defender in the shape of Morato, which paid dividends to the maximum as Forest prevailed 2-0.

Given Tottenham's penchant for high-octane attacking play, the Forest boss may persist with that 3-4-2-1 shape, as Morato holds his place at the back alongside Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo.

Ola Aina should not be in any danger of dropping out either, but Santo did admit in his pre-game press conference that some players were carrying bumps and bruises, suggesting that some rotation could be on the cards.

Ryan Yates and Alex Moreno will likely benefit from any changes that are made, replacing Elliot Anderson and Neco Williams respectively, but Morgan Gibbs-White should reprise his midfield role.

Up top, Anthony Elanga will endeavour to score in three straight Premier League games for the first time, while Chris Wood already four Boxing Day goals to his name in the top flight - no player still active in the division has more.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Sels; Morato, Murillo, Milenkovic; Aina, Yates, Gibbs-White, Moreno; Hudson-Odoi, Elanga; Wood

Written by

Ben Knapton

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