EFL Cup second round action comes home to Nottingham Forest in the form of Premier League opposition in Newcastle United.
Nuno Espirito Santo would have been content at the start Nottingham Forest have made to their Premier League season ahead of the EFL Cup clash with Newcastle United. He would have been happier had they managed to get a win over Bournemouth in the opening game as the Cherries pegged back an equaliser late in that game. The Midlands side made amends by holding out to their slender lead against Southampton at the weekend, thus collecting four points from six.
Some may argue that Forest have had a favourable fixtures list early on in the season. But things are about to get intense in the coming period. Starting their EFL Cup campaign, Espirito Santo’s side are facing Premier League opposition, which is deemed a tough encounter to begin with, and a good result here would help boost the confidence levels of the squad in general.
A deep run in cup competition will be one of the objectives for Nuno Espirito Santo heading into the new season. Whether the hosts have the ammunition to find a way past the Magpies remains to be seen, as this EFL Cup tie does represent the most exciting of fixtures at this stage of the competition.
Eddie Howe is also in a very content position after two rounds of league fixtures as he watched his side collect four points in the process. Having shown resilience in their opening day fixture against Southampton after going down to ten men and managing to win that clash, they were pegged back against Bournemouth.
Refereeing controversy marred their clash with the Cherries at the weekend, as Bournemouth were denied a late winner, which has divided opinions over the handball rule. Howe would have been satisfied by the decision, as he will probably think his side deserved the point and certainly did not warrant coming out as winners.
Now, Howe will focus his attention towards the cup competition, although he would have generally hoped his Newcastle United side weren’t here to play this round. Despite the Magpies finishing in a Europa Conference League place last season, Manchester United winning the FA Cup meant there was no continental football at St. James’ Park, which sees them playing the EFL Cup second round.
Team News & Tactics
Nottingham Forest
For Nuno Espirito Santo, it is also imperative to forget the tightness in fixtures this cup game brings but focus more on building fitness in the legs of his players. Then the fact that it is a Premier League opposition they are facing, he will likely put out a solid team to face the Magpies in this home game.
Fitness wise, Danilo’s ankle break in the opening weekend will see him miss a considerable period of action, and he remains their only absentee as things stand. Espirito Santo is expected to name a strong lineup, but will also make a few alterations to use his fringe players and add some munites into their legs.
For instance, he might rest his starting centre-back partnership of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo for Willy Boly and Andrew Omobamidele. At the same time, Harry Toffolo could replace Ola Aina at left-back. Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez could come into the midfield setup, replacing Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson.
Jota Silva might get the chance to shine on the right wing in place of Anthony Elanga, while Taiwo Awoniyi might replace Chris Wood in the centre-forward role. Only Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams and Callum Hudson-Odoi will keep their respective spots in the team following their participation at the weekend in the Premier League.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Miguel; Williams, Boly, Omobamidele, Toffolo; Yates, Dominguez; Silva, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi
Newcastle United
Sandro Tonali is available for selection again, and after extensive training sessions with the squad, Eddie Howe might see a place for the Italian international in the lineup. There are some doubts regarding his match-sharpness. But it will be wise to hand him his first competitive minutes in a long while.
Tonali should ideally slot alongside a midfield pack of Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock, with which Joelinton and Sean Longstaff could earn some rest and a place on the Newcastle United bench. Some fitness and suspension issues are facing Howe, with Lewis Miley and Callum Wilson both out, while Fabian Schar continues to serve the second of his three-match ban.
Beyond that, long-term absentees Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman are nowhere near the squad at the moment and will remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Howe could also hand minutes to Lewis Hall and Kieran Trippier from the start in his backline alongside goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. A complete change in the front is also expected, with the likes of Harvey Barnes and Miguel Almiron joining William Osula in the attacking setup.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Vlachodimos; Trippier, Kelly, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock; Almiron, Osula, Barnes
Key Stats
- Nottingham Forest knocked out Newcastle United at this stage of the competition in 2017 and 2018.
- Nottingham Forest reached the competition’s semi-final rounds 18 months ago.
- Newcastle United were beaten finalists in this competition 18 months ago and exited in the quarter-final stage last season.
- Newcastle United have been eliminated from this competition in the second round four times since 2017, including twice against Nottingham Forest.
Player to Watch
Sandro Tonali
At this moment, Sandro Tonali exemplifies the term ‘like a new signing’ like no other player in the league, as his presence would be a breath of fresh air for Howe. The midfielder has missed playing competitive football for nearly a year following his ban, and is again available for selection following the end of his exile.
Howe will be cautious to use a player who will undoubtedly lack match sharpness. But he has been training regularly and will be itching to get on the pitch. All eyes will be on the Italian ahead of this second-round clash with Forest, as he will be keen to make a significant impact ahead of the long season ahead.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle United
Newcastle United could banish their ghosts from the past in this competition against Forest and in this particular round, where they have suffered at the hands of their opponents. Howe will rely on the quality at hand in comparison to his opposite number and will likely take the three points here.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have a good enough team to face the Magpies, although, with Nuno Espirito Santo expected to ring the changes, he might lose out on the continuity. Hence, there is every chance that Forest may falter in the early stages of this competition, as the Magpies look like favourites heading into this clash.