Nottingham Forest have perhaps the biggest game of their season coming up this weekend, when they travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur.
This is the definition of a relegation six-pointer, with the men in Garibaldi Red needing a win to help give them the advantage in the fight for survival.
Despite picking up two wins in the Europa League so far, Vitor Pereira has yet to oversee a victory in the Premier League.
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Picking up just two points in the four games he’s managed. Sunday’s clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would be as good a time as any to get on the board.
Forest team news for Spurs trip
There are still a raft of Forest players sidelined for their trip to North London. They will certainly be without five players, namely Chris Wood, Jair Cunha, Willy Boly, John Victor and Nicolo Savona, who are all set to be out until after the March international break.
Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood looks dejected after the match
It will be interesting to see if 23-year-old winger Dilane Bakwa will be available, and if so, in what capacity.
In their Europa League win away to FC Midtjylland on Thursday, he was withdrawn through injury after 75 minutes, and it remains to be seen if he will be back in time for Sunday’s game.
Pereira decided to prioritise this weekend’s huge fixture away to the Lilywhites by resting several key players on Thursday. Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ola Aina were amongst those left out, so there are no major concerns when it comes to his go-to starters.
The Forest boss explained ahead of Sunday that “I have a good headache to decide” when it comes to who starts in goal.
Both Stefan Ortega and Matz Sels are fit and available, with the former getting the nod on Thursday. It certainly leaves Pereira with a big decision to make.
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There is also a decision he must make regarding the starting winger, too.
Why Pereira has a decision to make out wide
It will be interesting to see if Callum Hudson-Odoi keeps his place in the Forest lineup ahead of the huge clash with the Lilywhites.
He has played seven times under Pereira, with a goal and an assist to his name, but has only played 431 minutes, the equivalent of 4.7 full 90 minute games.
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Instead, it could be Omari Hutchinson who gets the nod against Spurs, having replaced his compatriot at the break against Fulham last weekend.
He has also played seven times, and slightly more minutes under the new Forest boss, though doesn’t have a goal or assist to show for it yet.
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Yet, he is one of their more creative players. This could be a game where his side need that bit of creative quality in the final third to help break Spurs down, and the former Ipswich Town man could make a huge difference.
Some of his numbers in the top flight this term highlight the skill he has to help break a side down.
For example, the 22-year-old creates an average of 0.45 big chances per 90 minutes, which places him in the top 14% of attackers.
Hutchinson stats in 25/26 PL
Stat (per 90)
Expected assists
Chances created
Big chances created
Dribbles completed
Touches in opposition box
Stats from Fotmob
You could argue the young attacker could become Forest’s new Brennan Johnson. The Welshman, a graduate of their academy, was renowned for making a big difference in games when Forest needed that spark.
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In 109 games for the club, he scored and assisted 41 goals, helping keep the club in the Premier League back in 2022/23, prior to departing for Spurs that summer.
He provided key moments against relegation rivals like Leeds United and Everton, making a massive difference to his former club’s survival chances.
With the creativity he possesses in the final third, it feels as though Hutchinson could have a similar impact, a man his teammates in Garibaldi Red can turn to on Sunday if they need a moment of magic.
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Hudson-Odoi is an excellent attacker in his own right, but perhaps this weekend’s trip to North London needs the likes of Hutchinson to help Forest secure a huge three points.
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