Vitor Pereira will take charge of Nottingham Forest for the first time when they face Fenerbahce in the Europa League
16:37, 18 Feb 2026
New Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira
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New Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira(Image: PA)
Vitor Pereira has been handed an injury boost ahead of his first match as Nottingham Forest head coach.
Defender Murillo has missed the Reds’ past two games due to a calf problem. However, he is in contention to make his comeback against Fenerbahce on Thursday (5.45pm kick-off).
Murillo travelled to Istanbul with Pereira’s squad and participated in a training session on the Chobani Stadyumu pitch this evening (Wednesday). He could feature against the Turkish outfits as Forest go in search of a positive result in the first leg of their Europa League play-off.
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“He is here training with us,” Pereira said in his pre-match press conference. “That means he is in contention to play tomorrow.
Ahead of the double-header against Fenerbahce, Forest have added goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to their Europa League squad. The former Manchester City man replaces the injured Matz Sels in the Reds’ list.
Ortega had initially not been included when the club submitted their revised squad at the start of this month. He is now eligible to feature as Forest bid to reach the last 16 of the tournament.
Sels has been sidelined since sustaining a groin injury in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace little more than a fortnight ago. But Pereira says the decision to remove the Belgian from the Europa list does not indicate a long-term absence.
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“I don’t think it is a long-term injury,” the Reds boss said. “I spoke with him yesterday and he is recovering well. We will see.”
For Pereira, it is a case of being thrown straight in at the deep end after being named as Sean Dyche’s replacement on Sunday. His main brief is to oversee Premier League survival, but he also wants to ensure the club’s European adventure continues.
“I’m very confident in (the players’ abilities),” said the Portuguese, who has had two spells as Fenerbahce manager during his career. “But this is my character and my personality.
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“I decided to accept this job and the project because I recognise the quality in my players and the squad. We just need it to click; a win to be more confident. We just need to get the confidence again, and this is my work.”
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