Oliver Glasner is set to take charge of his first competitive game as Nottingham Forest head coach on Saturday, with Leeds United the visitors to the City Ground.
The new Forest boss has a couple of absentees to deal with, but there is still a strong squad available for the Premier League opener. With Oliver Glasner expected to stick with the 3-4-2-1 system he used at Crystal Palace, there is a good idea of how his first Forest XI could look.
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Nottingham Forest predicted XI vs Leeds United
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Goalkeeper: Matz Sels
Sels should keep his place between the posts for the opening game. There is little reason to expect a change for Glasner’s first competitive match.
Defenders: Ousmane Diomande, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo
The back three looks fairly straightforward. Diomande could make his Forest debut on the right side of the defence, with Milenkovic and Murillo alongside him.
It would give Nottingham Forest a decent centre-back trio as Glasner begins his reign.
Wing-backs: Ola Aina, Neco Williams
Glasner is expected to use wing-backs in his 3-4-2-1, with Aina on the right and Williams on the left.
Both will have an important job in giving Forest width while also dropping back when Leeds have possession.
Midfield: Xaver Schlager, Ibrahim Sangare
With Ryan Yates ruled out and Elliot Anderson no longer at the club, Schlager could come straight into the midfield.
The Austrian arrived from RB Leipzig on a free transfer and could make his first Premier League appearance for Forest alongside Sangare.
Attacking midfield: Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White
Gibbs-White should operate in one of the two attacking roles behind the striker. Ndoye is expected to take the other spot.
That would give Nottingham Forest a couple of quality names capable of playing close to the front man while also moving into wider areas.
Striker: Igor Jesus
Igor Jesus is expected to lead the line against Leeds. Chris Wood is another option, but the Brazilian is the predicted starter in Glasner’s first competitive XI.
Forest’s predicted XI
Sels; Diomande, Milenkovic, Murillo; Aina, Schlager, Sangaré, Williams; Ndoye, Gibbs-White; Igor Jesus.
The main absences are Yates and Nicolo Savona, with both players ruled out of the matchday squad. Savona has also suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.
There could still be some debate over the final selection, especially with several players competing for places. But the shape looks clear. Glasner appears likely to begin with three centre-backs and wing-backs, giving Forest a familiar structure from his previous job.
