Fenerbahce won 2-1 at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest stumbled over the line to reach the Europa League last 16, with Ryan Yates handed a rare start.
The midfielder has made just a single start in the Premier League this season and has been forced to use the Europa League as a chance to get himself match sharp.
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Yates is the sole survivor from the club’s promotion in 2021/22, and as the club captain, it will hurt him to grasp that he’s no longer a regular in the team.
Last night against Fenerbahce, something happened that will have hurt him a lot more, with some gruesome details of a new injury emerging after the game.
Nottingham Forest FC v Fenerbahce SK - UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ryan Yates dislocated finger during defeat to Fenerbahce
Footage that emerged after the game showed Yates nursing a pinky heading in a completely different direction, and he needed it resetting on the pitch.
In true warrior style, he got the finger put back into the socket and carried on until half-time, when he was substituted by Vitor Pereira amid four Forest changes.
Yates didn’t perform well at all against Fenerbahce, and without his injury, would have been deservedly substituted at the interval due to his poor showing.
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Still, the commitment to the cause has been highlighted by this issue with his finger and hopefully, he will still be able to take his place on the bench against Brighton on Sunday.
Yates could be on borrowed time at Forest
Last night offered a glimpse of one big issue for Yates at the City Ground.
The fact that he’s only been able to get on the pitch for the Europa League games has led to him falling out of form, and his match sharpness is non-existent.
Right now, Ibrahim Sangare, Nicolas Dominguez and Elliot Anderson are all better options to play in midfield, and that’s a problem for Yates.
In the summer, there will be a serious decision for Yates to make because he’s now at the age where he needs to be playing regular football.
Nobody has ever knocked Yates’ commitment to the cause but if Forest make it five seasons in the Premier League, will he really want to spend another season sitting on the bench?
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