Nottingham Forest is set to welcome back midfielder Ibrahim Sangare for their upcoming Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. Sangare, who missed last weekend's 2-2 draw with Liverpool due to a minor calf injury sustained during training, is expected to be available for selection.
In Sangare's absence, summer signing Xaver Schlager took his place in the starting lineup at Anfield. Schlager partnered with James McAtee, who delivered an impressive performance and was awarded the Premier League’s Player of the Match after being deployed in a deeper midfield role. With Sangare's return, competition for places in the midfield will intensify, providing Forest with added depth as they face a challenging fixture against Spurs.
Head coach Oliver Glasner expressed satisfaction with the club's summer transfer activity, which saw Nottingham Forest make six key signings, including Colombian wing-back Daniel Munoz from Crystal Palace and striker Liam Delap, who joined for a club-record fee of £45 million from Chelsea. These acquisitions are part of Forest's strategy to strengthen the squad after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.
Despite some late transfer bids for key players being rejected, Glasner remains optimistic about the quality of the squad. He noted, “We wanted to reduce the number of players because we won’t be playing European football this season, while adding quality players with top character, and I think we achieved everything.” This indicates a focused approach to building a competitive team for the current Premier League campaign.
Munoz, who has been training with a facial protection mask following nose surgery during pre-season, will also be available for the match against Tottenham. However, Glasner highlighted the need for Munoz to gain match fitness and settle into the team before he can play to his full potential.
In addition to Sangare and Munoz, Glasner confirmed that Italian defender Nicolo Savona has returned to partial training after a lengthy absence due to a knee injury sustained in January. Glasner expressed hope that Savona could participate fully in training during the upcoming international break, which would provide a boost to Forest's defensive options.
With the recent loan departures of Morato to West Ham and Zach Abbott to Southampton, Forest currently has four senior central defenders. Glasner sees Savona and club captain Ryan Yates as viable options to bolster the defense as they prepare for a crucial match against Tottenham, who are looking to maintain their strong start to the season.
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