Latest Nottingham Forest news as Sean Dyche's Reds prepare to face the Cherries in key Premier League match
09:00, 26 Oct 2025
Nottingham Forest defender Oleksandr Zinchenko goes down injured against Porto
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Nottingham Forest defender Oleksandr Zinchenko goes down injured against Porto(Image: Getty)
Sean Dyche will take charge of his first Premier League game as Nottingham Forest head coach this afternoon.
The Reds are away to Bournemouth (2pm kick-off) and they will be eager to build on a positive start to life under their new manager. They claimed their first victory since the opening day of the season on Thursday night when they toppled Porto in the Europa League.
Beating the Portuguese outfit was the perfect confidence booster for Forest ahead of their trip south. Turning around their league form and climbing the table is a priority for Dyche.
He has some tough decisions to make when it comes to naming his starting XI and he will also be sweating on the fitness of some players. Below is a look at the Reds' injury state of play ahead of the game.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Injury: Unknown.
What we know:The Arsenal loanee was forced off shortly before half-time against Porto. After indicating he was struggling, he received some treatment on the pitch then made way for Nicolo Savona in the 37th minute.
Zinchenko appeared visibly upset when he came off. He has been struggling with a groin injury recently.
What has been said: “We will wait to see how Zinchenko is after coming off. That one is going to be touch and go, I think," Dyche said after Thursday night's match.
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Chris Wood
Injury: Knee.
What we know: A sore knee had hampered the front man while on duty for New Zealand during the recent international break. He was managed carefully by his country and played limited minutes.
He came on for the final 15 minutes against Chelsea last weekend for what proved to be Ange Postecoglou's final match in the hot seat. However, he was not in the match squad in midweek after being absent from training in the build-up to the Porto match.
What has been 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," Dyche said on Thursday.
The Reds boss had said ahead of the Europa League fixture: “Woody got a knock. 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."
Dilane Bakwa
Injury: Unknown.
What we know: Like Wood, the winger was not involved in training prior to Porto. He had not been in the squad to face Chelsea and was also absent in midweek.
What has been said: “Bakwa is going to be a bit longer,” Dyche said post-match. He had previously said: “Bakwa is injured. We will find out more news on that.”
Ola Aina
Injury: Hamstring.
What we know: The full-back is expected to be sidelined for at least three months after sustaining a hamstring injury while on duty for Nigeria during the September set of international fixtures. He limped off after just 10 minutes of his country's 1-1 draw with South Africa.
Aina underwent scans back on Trentside and is now facing a lengthy spell out of action. He was left out of Forest's 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the season, with striker Taiwo Awoniyi reportedly included instead.
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What has been said: Aina recently posted a message on Instagram to say surgery on his injury had gone well. He said: “Surgery went really well and recovery is going smoothly.
"A massive thank you to the club @officialnffc, my teammates, and all the fans for the incredible support over the past few days, it’s meant a lot. I’ll be working hard every day to get back out there as soon as possible and can’t wait to be back on the pitch at the City Ground. See you soon. It’s gonna be alright.”
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