A number of first team aces featured for Nottingham Forest as their pre-season opener against Chesterfield ended in stalemate.
Ola Aina, who recently penned a new contract, Ryan Yates, Jota Silva and Callum Hudson-Odoi all started at the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon, while Brazilian duo Murillo and Morato featured as substitutes.
Young forward Dale Taylor was among those given a chance to impress Nuno Espirito Santo from the off after his impressive season on loan at Wigan Athletic in League One. Northern Ireland striker Taylor collected the Latics’ Player of the Year award after scoring 11 league goals for them.
Midfielder Lewis O’Brien has been linked with a bunch of Championship clubs but he started in midfield alongside skipper Ryan Yates and New Zealander Marko Stamenic.
The Forest bench was largely made up of development players but Nuno did give star centre-back Murillo a 45-minute run-out in the second half. Fellow Brazilian defender Morato was also introduced at half-time.
Nuno made seven changes at the interval before another four switches in the 62nd minute to protect his players in their first fixture of the summer.
This was Forest’s first match without Anthony Elanga following the Swedish winger’s big money move to Newcastle United and a clutch of first team players were absent including Morgan Gibbs-White amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur in his services.
Forest continue their pre-season campaign against Monaco next weekend.
Forest XI (4-2-3-1): Miguel; Aina, Carmo, Boly, Richards; Stamenic, Yates; Jota Silva, O'Brien, Hudson-Odoi; Taylor
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