Nottingham Forest face a huge encounter with Leeds United tonight, knowing that a win will take the Reds nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Victory for Sean Dyche would plunge Daniel Farke’s team to 17th place – below Forest – with the Whites facing Chelsea and Aston Villa away from home after tonight’s clash.
Should Nottingham Forest risk Sels or Hudson-Odoi against Leeds United?
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Forest will know the size of the task facing them at Elland Road, however, with Leeds boasting brilliant home form, and tonight’s task is made all the more difficult with Neco Williams suspended.
The Reds did some work in the January transfer window and although Forest didn’t sign Celtic star Arne Engels, three new players should all be in the squad tonight.
Nottingham Forest star Matz Sels.
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Sean Dyche holds reservations over one Nottingham Forest player
Forest landed Luca Netz on transfer deadline day, and he’s the obvious option to replace Williams at left-back against Leeds tonight.
Dyche suggested that he might not use Netz at Leeds, and that does feel a little bit concerning, given that Forest have signed a left-back exactly for these situations.
The alternative would involve Dyche deploying Morato at centre-back and moving Murillo to left-back, which makes very little sense.
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Leeds are formidable on home soil, and the last thing Forest need tonight is square pegs in round holes across the pitch.
How Forest should line up against Leeds
Stefan Ortega will come into the team to play at the expense of Matz Sels, who went off injured last weekend.
MurilloAt the back, we think Netz should come in for his Reds debut, with Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo all playing in their natural positions.
Who should replace Neco Williams at left-back for Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United?
What would be your team for tonight?
In midfield, it feels likely that Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare will continue their partnership in midfield as Dyche continues with 4-2-3-1.
Callum Hudson-Odoi could miss out of the Elland Road trip and that will open the door for Omari Hutchinson to take his place in the team.
Nicolas Dominguez should start out wide on the other flank, dropping into midfield out of possession, with Morgan Gibbs-White playing as the number 10.
Lorenzo Lucca will push Igor Jesus for a start, but tonight it’s likely to be the Brazilian who gets the nod to lead the line.
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