Sean Dyche has announced that Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates will be sidelined due to a hamstring injury ahead of their UEFA Europa League clash against FC Utrecht. This comes as Dyche’s team prepares to face Utrecht in the Netherlands on Thursday, where a victory could potentially elevate them into the top eight of the Europa League League Phase, contingent on the outcomes of other matches.
Nottingham Forest has struggled recently, losing two of their last three matches and managing to score only once during that stretch. However, Dyche has revealed encouraging news concerning other injured players returning to the squad, providing a crucial boost at this pivotal moment in their campaign.
Dyche commented on the squad’s recovery process, stating, “As you can see from the squad, there are players coming back into the squad. It’s not the perfect way back in, I don’t think, going straight back into competitive action in the Europa League and Premier League, but we’ve got a massive game schedule, so we’re going to have to use these players wisely.”
Yates sustained his injury shortly after making a substitute appearance in Forest’s 3-0 defeat against Everton, lasting only 16 minutes before being forced off. Dyche assessed Yates’s condition, describing it as not requiring surgery but acknowledging it would take time to heal: “Ryan Yates has got a situation with his hamstring that’s not going to be quick… it’s going to be a slow one.”
In addition to Yates, goalkeeper Matz Sels will also miss the matchup against Utrecht due to a tight groin, as Dyche emphasized the importance of being cautious with player fitness.
Chris Wood, who has been absent from the squad since a loss to Chelsea, has shown signs of progress in his recovery from a knee injury and has returned to training. Dyche noted, “Wood’s making progress, which is good… it’s not going to be immediate, but he’s back out there.”
Dyche also mentioned other players close to returning, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz, and Dilane Bakwa, with both Zinchenko and Luiz expected to be available given their experience and familiarity with competitive play. While Bakwa has been gradually reintegrated into the squad, Dyche indicated he may be less likely to participate immediately in Thursday’s match.
Brazilian defender Murillo, who had been dealing with a tight hamstring, was spotted in training and is likely to be part of the squad traveling to face Utrecht.
As Nottingham Forest approaches this critical Europa League fixture, the return of key players could herald a turnaround in their recent form, providing the team with renewed hope amidst injury challenges.