Latest Nottingham Forest news as Vitor Pereira's Reds prepare for huge clash against Tottenham Hotspur
13:30, 20 Mar 2026
Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira
View Image
Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira(Image: Getty)
Nottingham Forest will still be without defender Jair Cunha for Sunday’s crunch clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds take on their relegation rivals in the capital (2.15pm kick-off) in a huge six-pointer at the bottom end of the table. Vitor Pereira’s side are out of the relegation zone on goal difference, level on points with West Ham United and just one point below Spurs.
Jair sustained a foot injury against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last week and was absent for last weekend’s draw with Fulham, along with Thursday’s second leg last 16 win over the Danish outfit. It means Forest will likely stick with a back four for the time being, rather than the three Pereira had utilised with the Brazilian available.
*JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page*
“No, Jair has an injury,” the Reds boss said when asked whether the centre-back would be fit for the weekend. “I don’t know exactly how long he will stay out but he is recovering and doing treatment. We will see what will happens, because he is important for us.”
The Reds will hope to soon be boosted by the return of long-term absentee Chris Wood. The striker has been sidelined since October with a knee issue but is in line to play a part in the run-in.
Asked whether Wood could return for the Aston Villa match after the international break, Pereira said: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t have the information about it. But he is another leader, a fantastic player and character, and we need him for the last games.”
The Reds will hope to build on a fantastic showing against Mitjylland as they reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League. They won 2-1 on the night and 3-0 in the penalty shootout after the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate.
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.
Pereira had picked a starting XI with Sunday in mind. He knows how important Sunday is but has cautioned it will not fully decide the club’s survival fate.
“Of course it is important to get points from the game,” he said. “But we have eight games until the end and we need to get points. We need to face the games with the mentality to get points everywhere and in all the games.
“If you look at Thursday, if we scored three or four goals it would have been what we deserved. But sometimes, it is the offside - the foot, the knee…
Article continues below
“But I don’t believe it will happen every time. One day it will be a case of we have just one chance and score a goal.”
How should Forest line up against Spurs?Click HERE to have your say