Nottingham Forest slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge, but an injury concern compounded onto the disappointment.
The Forest manager was light on defensive options against the Gunners.
Ola Aina’s injury and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s unavailability to play against his parent club meant Morato was selected to play at left back.
Morato struggled against Noni Madueke, but was eventually put back into his more familiar centre back position.
However, this was not a tactical choice, but instead a forced change as Murillo had to be taken off with an injury.
Ange Postecoglou has now delivered an update on the fitness of the central defender.
Ange Postecoglou on the sidelines as Nottingham Forest manager
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Ange Postecoglou says Murillo’s injury looks like a knock
Early in the match against Arsenal, Murillo picked up an injury and had to be subbed off with 37 minutes played.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Ange Postecoglou was asked to provide an update on Murillo.
MORE FOREST STORIES
The Australian delivered news that Nottingham Forest fans will be happy to hear, as it seems it is not a serious injury.
Postecoglou said, ‘Looks like just a knock, so hopefully with some rest he’ll be OK.’
Murillo struggles with an injury against Arsenal
Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images
After Aina’s injury during the international break, the last thing the Forest boss would have wanted was for another of his core defenders to be out injured.
Nottingham Forest travel to play Swansea City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, and even if Murillo is fit to play, he is likely to be rested following Ange’s comments.
Murillo is one of Ange Postecoglou’s most important defenders
The Brazilian is one of the most important defenders for Ange Postecoglou due to the pace he provides at the back.
While the usual Ange high-line was not deployed against Arsenal, there is no doubt that he’ll try to shift the back line further up the pitch at some stage, even if it is not quite as high as at Spurs.
Nikola Milenkovic could struggle to adapt, and this means Murillo will be extremely important for the Australian.
He’ll be hoping that the early assessment of Murillo’s injury does ring true, and he’ll be back in action to take on Burnley.