Latest Nottingham Forest news as Sean Dyche's Reds beaten 3-1 by Leeds United at Elland Road
08:48, 07 Feb 2026Updated 08:50, 07 Feb 2026
Nottingham Forest's Zach Abbott is challenged by Leeds United's Noah Okafor
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Nottingham Forest's Zach Abbott is challenged by Leeds United's Noah Okafor
Luca Netz’s late arrival at Nottingham Forest was the key factor behind Sean Dyche’s decision to start the new signing on the bench in his team’s 3-1 defeat to Leeds United.
The Reds’ preparations for Friday night’s clash at Elland Road were blown wide open when they lost Murillo to a calf injury after the previous day’s training session. The Brazilian defender had been earmarked to fill in for the suspended Neco Williams at left-back, but Dyche was suddenly forced to alter his plans.
Forest had added left-back Netz to their squad on transfer deadline day, but Dyche felt it was too soon after his arrival to throw the 22-year-old straight into the starting XI. Instead, Ola Aina switched to the left and young centre-back Zach Abbott was deployed at right-back.
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“We went through all of that, but he had been here a day,” the Reds head coach said of Netz. “He had been working with us for one day, so it would be a lot to ask of someone who has only just got here, doesn’t know anyone and doesn’t know the way we play. It would be a lot to ask. That was my decision. He did fine when he came on.
“Zach is a good pro and has been working hard. He did well when he played in the Europa League. It was my decision to play him.”
Netz came on for the final 15 minutes against Leeds, by which point the visitors were already 3-0 down. It had proved a baptism of fire for former Manchester City keeper Stefan Ortega in goal - in for the injured Matz Sels - although fellow debutant Lorenzo Lucca did grab a consolation goal for Forest.
“Luca is a young player who has just got thrown into the club at the last minute,” Dyche explained. “That was my decision (not to start him); I don’t want to put players out there until they know what we do.
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“He did fine when he came on. Zach knows what we do, has played in the Europa League and has had solid performances.
“It was pretty late (signing) for Stefan, too. He will get to know us. He had to deal with the changes (being without Murillo).
“Murillo would have played left-back, actually. But without him, Ola went to left-back. We had to make all these changes last minute.
“It obviously affected it, but they should still know the basics. Whatever team I’d put out they should still know the basics of how a unit works, so that’s frustrating for me as manager.
He added: “I thought Lucca did well when he came on, as did all the subs. It’s frustrating for you when you haven’t picked them, but that’s sometimes the way it is. You want players to be effective from the bench, and I thought they were.
“I’m pleased for him (Lucca). He worked hard and looked alive in the box.”
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