Nottingham Forest are gearing up for what will be a crucial encounter against Brighton today, but behind-the-scenes, one player could weigh up his long-term future.
Forest look to take advantage of West Ham defeat to Liverpool
Forest are in the last 16 of the Europa League, but they are also 17th in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone, with a trip to Brighton tomorrow that feels every bit as significant as any European night under the City Ground lights.
Thursday's second leg against Fenerbahçe was supposed to be a formality. Forest had won 3-0 in Istanbul the week before in Vitor Pereira's first game in charge, and the tie looked as good as done.
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However, from the very first whistle, it was chaotic.
Fenerbahçe fans in a 1,500-strong away end launched fireworks onto the pitch immediately after kick-off, forcing a three-minute delay as players dodged flares landing in the penalty area.
Then Kerem Akturkoglu swept the Turks in front on 22 minutes and the mood inside the City Ground shifted quickly. Akturkoglu added a penalty early in the second half and suddenly Fenerbahçe, implausibly, were threatening one of the great European comebacks.
Pereira threw on four changes at half-time, calling it a "difficult" decision after the game, and it was substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi who eventually killed the tie — arriving at the back post from Ola Aina's cross to score with 22 minutes left.
Forest were through 4-2 on aggregate, drawn against Midtjylland in the last 16, but the night had been far more uncomfortable than it ever should have been.
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A three-goal cushion reduced to nerves and drama, and those images will not have been lost on anyone watching Forest's domestic situation closely.
West Ham's 5-2 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday has given Forest temporary breathing room. The Hammers, who remain in the bottom three on 25 points, have not closed the gap.
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Forest head to the Amex tomorrow needing a result against a Brighton side who ended a six-game winless run last weekend and are building some momentum of their own.
Forest have not won any of their last five league trips to Brighton, and with Chris Wood, Matz Sels and John Victor all sidelined through injury, the task is steep.
The squad is stretched, and questions are now beginning to swirl around one of Pereira's attacking options.
Lorenzo Lucca to assess future amid Nottingham Forest complaints
Lorenzo Lucca arrived on loan from Napoli in January with some fanfare, scoring on his debut against Leeds at Elland Road.
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However, that remains his only goal in five appearances, accumulating fewer than 200 minutes of Premier League football. He was hauled off at half-time against Fenerbahçe on Thursday, and the reaction from supporters on social media was pointed.
Lucca has failed to impress overall since joining Forest, with Sky Sports journalist Luca Marchetti addressing the situation directly and making no effort to gloss over the reception the Italian has received.
Marchetti also suggests that Lucca is poised to assess his future with his representatives amid these complaints over his behaviour at Forest.
"Lucca may perhaps have had attitudes that not everyone liked, but this is not the starting point for making an assessment," Marchetti told Radio Marte.
"In football, it is the results that determine the mood. The player's behaviour is not well received by the fans, not even in England, it seems. This should lead both the player and his entourage to reflect."
Marchetti's words carry weight.
Forest hold an option to make the deal permanent for around £30 million in the summer — a sum that currently looks very difficult to justify.
If Pereira cannot get a tune out of Lucca in the coming weeks, that option will almost certainly not be triggered.
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