Munoz, Jesus, Delap - Nottingham Forest predicted XI for key Aston Villa clash

Competition for places means head coach Oliver Glasner has plenty to ponder as he considers his Nottingham Forest team selection for a trip to the West Midlands.

The Reds will be aiming to clinch their first win of the season when they face Aston Villa at Villa Park today (3pm kick-off). They came close to breaking their victory duck last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, only for Neco Williams to have a goal chalked off for handball.

Summer signing Liam Delap made his full debut against Spurs but couldn’t quite force a breakthrough. The £45 million striker recorded just one shot at goal in his 74 minutes on the pitch - and that came from 25 yards out.

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It was still an encouraging display from the former Chelsea man but Forest do need to find a way of getting more out of him. Perhaps it is to Delap’s supporting cast where a change is made this weekend in an attempt to do just that.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Dan Ndoye have been first-choice to play just behind a front man so far this season but the time might be right to mix things up. Glasner has a number of options, if he does want to shuffle his pack.

After being quiet on the opening day, Ndoye was much improved in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool in which he got on the scoresheet. He was unable to back that performance up on the banks of the Trent, however, and could be vulnerable to losing his place.

Igor Jesus could consider himself a little hard done by to lose out to Delap last weekend. The Brazilian is unlikely to be a regular starter in the forward position but he has a better chance of doing so in one of the two No.10 roles.

Meanwhile, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Arnaud Kalimuendo are struggling to get much of a look-in at present. The pair seem to have their work cut out to force their way into contention.

In midfield, there is a decision to be made over whether Ibrahim Sangare comes back into the team. The Ivory Coast international sat the last two out with a slight injury problem but is available to face Villa.

Sangare is a key player but Xaver Schlager impressed last time out. There is certainly a case for sticking with the status quo given the latter and James McAtee worked well together.

Glasner must also make a call over whether to stick or twist at wing-back. Daniel Munoz replaced Ola Aina for the final half hour last weekend, and it might be the new man is in from the start on this occasion. It all depends how much the Reds boss wants to change a team that recorded a shut-out against Spurs.

It would perhaps come as a surprise if a change is made to the back line. Jair Cunha caught the eye last weekend and might continue to keep Ousmane Diomande out of the team on merit, rather than anything to do with the new man’s fitness levels.

Forest predicted XI: Sels; Jair, Milenkovic, Murillo; Munoz, Schlager, McAtee, Williams; Jesus, Gibbs-White; 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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