Latest Nottingham Forest news as Sean Dyche's Reds prepare to face Leeds United in crunch Premier League clash
13:30, 07 Nov 2025
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche
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Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche(Image: PA)
Head coach Sean Dyche anticipates still having a ‘threadbare’ Nottingham Forest squad to choose from for Sunday’s crunch clash with Leeds United.
The Reds were without a number of key players for Thursday night’s 0-0 Europa League draw away to Sturm Graz. Injuries and ineligibility limited Dyche’s options as he made seven changes to his starting XI.
Igor Jesus, Taiwo Awoniyi, Omari Hutchinson and Jair Cunha will all be available again for this weekend after being unavailable in Austria. Elliot Anderson is also expected to return after remaining in the UK as a precaution to recover from some knocks, while Matz Sels and Murillo will be back in the XI after being on the bench in midweek.
Dyche had previously hoped Chris Wood (knee) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (dead leg) would be fit to face Leeds (2pm kick-off) at the City Ground. But speaking after the midweek stalemate, he was less optimistic.
“I think it's improbable, unfortunately,” he said. “Maybe after that. Maybe after the Leeds game there's a stronger chance.
“I still think we're going to be pretty threadbare but we're waiting on news. Hopefully the game against Sturm Graz didn't offer any more new injuries, so we're hopeful on that.
“Recovery is key now but then still pre-planning for the next game. That is, quite obviously, the challenge of the game schedule - but particularly when you're a bit threadbare with bodies.
“What’s helpful is the timing of the kick-off (in Graz). At least we're getting in at a relatively reasonable hour, so that helps with recovery.
“Recovery is important now, we know that. Also, it is a challenge trying to get the level of fitness that I believe is right for the team while the game schedule is heavy - there’s no two ways about that.
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“On the other hand, we do have a lot of specialist people who can help with that and with dietary requirements and all the rest of it. We'll be using everything we can to get these players through that game and the players fit as quick as we can because this international period is going to be really, really important
“But the first focus is to take on Leeds. Perform in front of our own fans and go and win a game, that's the immediate purpose, that's for sure.”
Forest are also without Douglas Luiz (hamstring), Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin), Angus Gunn (knee), Dilane Bakwa (unknown) and long-term absentee Ola Aina (hamstring). James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo both suffered cramp against Graz as they made rare starts for the club.
With injuries biting, the two-week hiatus after Sunday’s match could prove timely for Forest. Dyche wants to go into it on the back of a positive result as the Reds bid to climb the Premier League table.
“The international break comes at various times, we all know that.” he said. “Sometimes people ask whether it puts you out of your stride when you’re winning and things like that. But there's no two ways about it, it’s come at a good time for us because of the injuries.
“It gives us that window without games. It doesn't mean they are going to miraculously get fit, but it just means there's no games to miss.
“If there is such a thing as speed in these situations then we'll try to do that, of course. But the body can only heal at a certain rate. Don't forget, it's not just about getting fit, they have then got to increase their training capacity to get back out there.
“This is the challenge. I knew the fixture list when I got here, I knew the current form, I knew the facts and stats, the analysis, lack of goals scored and lack of clean-sheets. We're trying to rebalance that.
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“There have been good signs so far with the performances. But now we need that killer edge at one end and to keep stopping them going in at the other.”
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