Nottingham Forest is gearing up for its upcoming Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland, with positive news regarding the fitness of defender Murillo. The Brazilian, who had been sidelined due to a thigh injury sustained during Ange Postecoglou’s debut match, has returned to training and is expected to be available for the match, which kicks off at 8 pm on Thursday at the City Ground.
Despite this encouraging development, Forest will be missing midfielder Douglas Luiz, who is dealing with a hamstring problem, and left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has a groin injury. Long-term absence Ola Aina adds to the team’s defensive woes, making the upcoming match a challenge for head coach Postecoglou. “Murillo should be good. He has trained the last three days, which is the first time he has had a solid block of training,” Postecoglou shared.
The head coach acknowledged the impact of injuries on the team’s defense, noting, “We’re a little bit short there. It’s always the way it goes in football; we don’t have too many injuries, but we’ve lost two full-backs and a defender.” Looking ahead, Postecoglou emphasized the necessity for the squad to step up, while noting that players like Morato have shown resilience in the face of adversity.
Regarding Zinchenko, Postecoglou stated that while he experienced some soreness from his recent matches, the issue is not significant enough to keep him out for long. He stressed the importance of managing player fitness wisely, especially with an international break approaching.
This match is particularly special for Nottingham Forest as it marks the return of European competition to the City Ground for the first time since 1996. Postecoglou, reflecting on the importance of the occasion, expressed his excitement: “I’m really privileged… It’s a responsibility I’m looking forward to — leading the club back in Europe for the first time in 30 years and hopefully making it a campaign to remember.”
With heightened anticipation in the air, fans can expect an electric atmosphere as Forest prepares to treat this match with the respect and seriousness that European competition demands. The club’s development over the decades has set a high expectation, and Postecoglou is eager to continue building on the foundation laid by his predecessors.
As Forest looks to make a memorable impact in Europe, supporters remain fervently hopeful for a strong showing against FC Midtjylland.