Jair, Hudson-Odoi, Delap - Nottingham Forest predicted XI for crunch Brentford clash

Nottingham Forest brought an end to a three-match losing run with their stalemate in Suffolk, now they need to plot a return to winning ways.

Missed chances proved costly for the Reds once again last week as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town. Head coach Oliver Glasner said afterwards there was value in a point away from home but he knows his team should have taken all three.

Forest have won once this season and find themselves in the Premier League’s bottom three ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures. Results certainly haven’t kept pace with performance levels, so putting that right against Brentford on Saturday (3pm kick-off) will be the aim.

Glasner must weigh up whether to shuffle his pack for the trip to the capital. The Austrian has mostly stuck with a settled side since taking charge but does have options to mix things up. He also has a few injury concerns to contend with.

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Full-back Neco Williams fell awkwardly and hurt his arm in the final minutes against the Tractor Boys. He trained this week and is fine to feature.

The Reds do have cover in the event Williams had been more seriously injured, though. Luca Netz replaced the Welshman at Portman Road while Ola Aina is capable of playing on the left.

Aina has played as the right-sided centre-back already this term so could also be a consideration for that spot. The Nigerian did well in that role against Aston Villa recently.

Whenever he takes charge of a club, Glasner makes being tight at the back a priority. Individual errors have hampered his team so far, with Nikola Milenkovic guilty of one last Friday night.

It was from Milenkovic’s poor pass to Matz Sels that the hosts equalised. It would be a surprise if Glasner responds by dropping the Serbian but he could always bring in Ousmane Diomande if he wanted to - either as the central lynchpin or on the right.

Finding the best defensive combination will surely play a part in getting Forest up the table. Diomande was earmarked to play on the right, supporting Milenkovic and Murillo, when he was signed this summer but the form of Jair Cunha has added to the fight for places.

There is competition further up the pitch, too. Nicolas Dominguez was not in the squad against Ipswich due to a muscle injury but had excelled against Arsenal previously.

Based on his showing against the Gunners, the Argentine would surely have been pushing to feature last week had he been fit. He can play either in midfield or as one of the two 10s - albeit Xaver Schlager and James McAtee have formed a solid partnership in the centre of the pitch.

There is a question mark over whether Dominguez will be available for Saturday. It may be that he is not risked, given the second international break of the season - and some extended recovery time - is looming.

Dan Ndoye has been Glasner’s preferred choice to partner Morgan Gibbs-White in the No.10 spots. However, the Switzerland international is also a doubt for the weekend due to a hamstring issue. If he doesn't get the green light, it could be an opportunity for either Callum Hudson-Odoi or Arnaud Kalimuendo to get minutes.

Somehow, Glasner needs to coax more goals from his side. They have passed up far too many chances of late.

Igor Jesus is expected to be back from injury soon, and will provide a big boost when he does return. The Brazilian had provided a threat from off the bench prior to being sidelined.

Liam Delap is yet to really spark into life in the Garibaldi but has shown what he is capable of, both with his goal against Villa and a strong display against Arsenal. The summer signing retains the trust of Glasner, leaving Chris Wood to settle for a substitutes’ role at present.

Forest predicted XI: Sels; Jair, Milenkovic, Murillo; Munoz, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Delap.

Sarah Clapson is Nottingham Forest correspondent for NottinghamshireLive and the Nottingham Post. An experienced sports reporter, she has covered the Reds since 2015, having joined the Post the previous year. Sarah has been in sports journalism for two decades and previously covered Mansfield Town for the Post, and before that Scunthorpe United for the Scunthorpe Telegraph. During her time covering Forest, she has been involved in the coverage of everything from Evangelos Marinakis’ takeover of the club to the promotion win at Wembley; from a points deduction to an FA Cup semi-final - not to mention plenty of managerial changes and numerous transfer sagas. She follows the team up and down the country, as well as abroad, to report on the latest goings-on.

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