Awoniyi starts and Danilo on bench - Nottingham Forest predicted starting XI for Luton Town FA Cup tie
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is planning to make the most of his squad when Nottingham Forest kick off their FA Cup campaign this weekend.
The competition means a lot to the Portuguese and he is keen for the club to go on a good run in it this season. The Reds host Luton Town in the third round on Saturday (3pm kick-off) and Nuno wants to use the third round tie to give certain players much-needed minutes.
“The FA Cup is important and it is a good chance for us in terms of the squad,” he said after Monday night’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. “We can give minutes to players because it is a very long season and we need all the players to have minutes. They need to have fitness and rhythm.”
With that in mind, it is likely to be a significantly-changed line-up for Forest against the Hatters. The fact his team have a huge league clash at home to Liverpool just a few days later, next Tuesday night (January 14, 8pm kick-off), will no doubt also come into Nuno’s thinking.
Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel could make his second appearance for the club. He was given a run-out against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup back in August, so it would be no surprise if he is given another opportunity at the weekend.
In defence, there is a decision to be made over whether Andrew Omobamidele should feature. The centre-back is the subject of transfer interest from Leeds United and Sheffield United, so it may be that Nuno turns to other options. Morato and Willy Boly are also in need of game time and youngster Zach Abbott will hope he has a chance of featuring.
It could be that Forest go with a three-man back line in the tie. Be it as wing-backs or full-backs, summer signings Eric da Silva Moreira and Alex Moreno might be in line to get the nod on the right and left respectively. The latter faces a fight to get back in the XI in the league at present as Neco Williams has been in fine form, while Moreira has made just three appearances so far this term. Harry Toffolo is also an option on the left.
In midfield, Nuno has said Danilo will be involved to some degree at the City Ground. The Brazilian has been sidelined with a broken ankle since the opening day of the campaign but is nearing his comeback.
“He is going to be involved against Luton. Let’s see if he can get on the pitch or not,” Nuno said on Monday night.
The likelihood is Danilo will be on the bench against the Hatters. Forest might see the cup clash as an opportunity to give West Ham United loanee James Ward-Prowse a rare start, given he has dropped down the pecking order. Elliot Anderson and Nicolas Dominguez started at Molineux, so it could be Ryan Yates comes in on Saturday.
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At the top end of the pitch, wide men Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa will be eager to make the line-up. Sosa made only his first league start when drafted in at the last minute against Everton last month. The Paraguayan and Jota both started the cup tie against Newcastle and a repeat would not be a surprise this time out.
If Nuno wishes to hold some players back with Liverpool in mind, it could impact his choice of formation. Morgan Gibbs-White and Anderson are both likely to start the league clash and may well be rested on Saturday, so going without a No.10 and switching to a 3-4-3 system might be the way forward.
Whatever formation the hosts deploy, it could be a big opportunity for striker Taiwo Awoniyi. The Nigerian bagged his first goal of the season from off the bench against Wolves but is still trying to rediscover his old form and sharpness - being on the pitch from the start would help.
Forest predicted XI: Miguel; Omobamidele, Boly, Morato; Moreira, Ward-Prowse, Yates, Moreno; Jota, Awoniyi, Sosa.
