Latest Nottingham Forest news as Sean Dyche's Reds prepare for Premier League clash with Bournemouth
13:30, 24 Oct 2025
Nottingham Forest's Oleksandr Zinchenko is consoled by Nikola Milenkovic after sustaining an injury against Porto
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Nottingham Forest's Oleksandr Zinchenko is consoled by Nikola Milenkovic after sustaining an injury against Porto(Image: Getty)
Nottingham Forest will have to make a couple of late fitness calls for their trip to face Bournemouth this weekend.
Sean Dyche made a winning start as head coach by steering the Reds to a 2-0 Europa League triumph over Porto on Thursday night. Now Forest want to keep the feelgood factor going by getting back on track in the Premier League.
However, striker Chris Wood is a doubt for Sunday’s clash against the Cherries (2pm kick-off) after missing the midweek match with a knee problem. Winger Dilane Bakwa was also absent against the Portuguese side due to an unspecified injury.
And Oleksandr Zinchenko was added to the Reds’ list of walking wounded when he was forced off in the first half at the City Ground. The full-back was at least able to hobble off after receiving treatment on the pitch but there is a question mark over whether he will be fit for the journey south.
“Bakwa is going to be a bit longer,” Dyche said. “With Woody, we are still waiting on news. The injury is settling, but how quick it can settle we are waiting on more news on that.
“We will wait to see how Zinchenko is after coming off. That one is going to be touch and go, I think.”
It is a quick turnaround for Forest after the exertions of earning their first victory since the opening day of the season. But Dyche does have the option of freshening his side up with the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi and Omari Hutchinson who were left out of the club’s Europa League squad.
“You want players who want to play,” the 54-year-old said. “We had a few players against Porto who couldn’t be in the squad; they will come back in. We’ve had a couple of injuries, so we will see how they are.
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“This is the challenge; you are playing in Europe and then you have got the league games. It is new for a lot of people involved with the club and a lot of the players. It is part of your adaptation as a professional.
“The fixtures are coming so we better be ready. And we will be.”
Dyche knows Forest will need to be on their game against a Bournemouth side currently third in the Premier League table. Thursday night ended a miserable run of form for the Reds as the new boss got off the mark at the first attempt after replacing Ange Postecoglou at the helm, but now the emphasis is on building on that result.
“They ask questions, they run and they work, and there is a team unity,” Dyche said of the Cherries. “They are powerful things.
“I’m under no illusion about it. It is certainly not an easy game, and they have made that clear to the world of football over the last couple of seasons.
“They are no light touch, that’s for sure. We know we are in for a real game.”
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