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It seems like St James’ Park is no stranger to a 4-4 draw, but wow did this last one against Luton feel entirely different to the comeback against Arsenal.
But we must move on – Premier League games are coming thick and fast and we have some momentum to continue given our upturn of form since the turn of the year.
Now, the Toon have a chance to get over their Boxing Day blues and finally put some distance between us and our bad festive run which saw us lose 3-1 at home to Forest in the reverse fixture with former Mag Chris Wood bagging a hattrick.
“It was a game which got away from us, which when we went 1-0 up you didn’t see coming,” Howe said of the disappointing home loss to Forest. For lots of that game we were pretty good. But we got some key details wrong and conceded some poor goals.
“Overall it was a disappointing day which promised so much. Of course there’s lots that we can take from that game into this one.”
Team news
Anthony Gordon has not trained this week after he was seen leaving St James’ on crutches after the Luton game, but Howe confirmed the injury was not serious and said he was hopeful the forward would be back “sooner rather than later.”
The trip to Forest also comes too soon for Alexander Isak. Howe hopes the striker “won’t be too far away” but warned the Swedish international “doesn’t have a fixed return date yet.”
Meanwhile Howe confirmed Callum Wilson is ready to start the match, but Harvey Barnes is still being eased back to match sharpness. Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson are nearing a return to training.
Magpie-turned-hattrick nemesis Chris Wood has a hamstring injury and will miss the game, along with AFCON finalists Ibrahim Sangare, Ola Aina and Willy Boly.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Gonzalo Montiel picked up knocks midweek in an FA Cup replay against Bristol City. Sunderland-born Gio Reyna could make his first Forest appearance at the City Ground alongside former Magpie Matz Sels – who would…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/02/09/forest-a-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-possible-line-ups-prediction/
Author : Joshua Nichol
Publish date : 2024-02-09 19:00:43
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