Nottingham Forest welcome West Ham United to the City Ground for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Tricky Trees beat Leicester City 3-1 in their most recent league match, while the Hammers secured a 2-1 win over Manchester United, and here, Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest team news for the two clubs.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Out: James Ward-Prowse (ineligible), Danilo (ankle), Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring)
Doubtful: Morgan Gibbs-White (ankle), Chris Wood (foot), Elliot Anderson (knock), Jota Silva (knock)
Sports Mole’s predicted XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Dominguez; Elanga, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
WEST HAM UNITED
Out: Niclas Fullkrug (Achilles), Mohammed Kudus (suspended)
Doubtful: None
Sports Mole’s predicted XI: Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio
Julen Lopetegui has been speaking ahead of West Ham’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking ahead of his side’s tough-looking clash with Nottingham Forest this weekend. The Hammers picked up a huge win over Manchester United last weekend, but consistency has been their biggest problem so far this season.
Lopetegui’s men are yet to secure back-to-back league wins, and they are currently 13th in the Premier League table. Forest have had no such problems, currently as high as seventh in the table despite spending last season battling relegation.
The trip to the East Midlands will be a tricky one for the Hammers, but Lopetegui wants to see momentum built and established. “A victory like last weekend [against Manchester United] is always important for our energy, but at the same time we know you can’t spend long thinking about the past,” said the Spaniard in his pre-match press conference. “Things are very quick in football, and already it has been a short week and we are focused on Nottingham Forest. Always we are happy to win, but only for 24 hours or so before you’re thinking about the next thing, and the next challenge.”
He added: “It’s going to be a very tough game. They are playing very well at the moment, and competing very well. They have good, technical players, and a very good coach, with clear ideas, and that’s why they’re doing so well in the league. They’ve beaten the likes of Liverpool, so we know this is going to be a demanding match, and we have to be ready. We’re expecting it to be a very big challenge for us, but I think the Premier League is the best competition in the world, so it’s like that every week!”
Lopetegui also vowed to use the depth of his squad, pointing to Crysencio Summerville’s big performance last weekend as an example of a player who has seized his opportunity. He added: “Crysencio [Summerville] hasn’t been doing anything different to what he’s done since he arrived here – he’s always ready to go whether he’s playing or not. He has different strengths to the other players, and everyone has to be ready to make an impact.
“Always there is a big focus on who is going to be in the starting line-up, but one important thing is that you can change things to suit each match. Each member of the team has to be ready to be involved in our challenge.”
Lopetegui’s message for Spain
Lopetegui’s home country is currently in a period of mourning, with the East coast of Spain hit by historic and deadly flooding this week. More than 150 have been confirmed dead in the Valencian region with more expected as emergency and military services continue to uncover debris.
“My thoughts are with the victims of the disaster in Spain, and their families. I know it’s been very hard for people over there, and they have our love and support,” said the Hammers boss. “I don’t know anyone personally involved or affected, but I know about the impact it’s had, and I think it’s important to say that we’re all thinking of everyone over there.”
