Latest Nottingham Forest news as Sean Dyche's Reds prepare to face Porto in Europa League clash
17:37, 22 Oct 2025
New Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche
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New Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche(Image: Getty)
Nottingham Forest will make a late fitness call on striker Chris Wood for Thursday’s Europa League match with Porto.
The front man was not involved in training on Wednesday ahead of the City Ground clash (8pm kick-off). Summer signing Dilane Bakwa was also absent and is awaiting an update on the extent of an unspecified injury.
Wood has been struggling with a knee problem of late. He played the final 15 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea which proved to be Ange Postecoglou’s final game in charge.
Sean Dyche was named as Postecoglou’s replacement on Tuesday and will be in the Reds hot seat for the first time when the Portuguese outfit come to town. However, he has a couple of fitness doubts for the game.
“Woody got a knock,” Dyche said. “We’re wondering whether it's going to settle down - it’s probably touch and go at the moment, because it does need settling down.
“He’s been off the grass. We're going to have to be touch and go and see how that one is. We will see how he is.
“Bakwa is injured as well. We will find out more news on that.”
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Dyche’s initial remit is to get Forest back to winning ways quickly after a miserable run of form. They have not tasted victory since Nuno Espirito Santo oversaw a 3-1 triumph over Brentford on the opening day.
A European night under the City Ground lights for his first match in charge will be quite the moment for Dyche. As a former youth player at the club, he is well aware how special an occasion it is.
“What a great experience to be back at Nottingham Forest as a manager, and then a European night,” he said. “That's a great occasion.
“Now, of course, it doesn’t feel great if you don't get the right result. We're going to go out there with the right energy levels, the right commitment levels, and also the quality. The freedom to show you quality. We want all that on the show. That's what we're looking for.”
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