Newcastle Aims for Top Five as They Face Struggling Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest will be back in Premier League play on Sunday, aiming to bounce back after a disappointing Europa League exit as they face Newcastle United at the City Ground.

Forest’s aspiration for a spot in the European final came to a disappointing halt on Thursday, with Aston Villa securing a commanding 4-0 win at Villa Park, resulting in a 4-1 aggregate score. This setback followed a strong league performance just days earlier, where Forest had achieved a 3-1 win against Chelsea, leaving fans perplexed by the stark difference in their recent displays.

Currently trailing Newcastle by three points in the league standings, Forest is striving to ensure their safety in the top tier and conclude the season positively. However, concerns linger related to player fatigue and injuries ahead of this critical match.

Meanwhile, Newcastle arrives with a boost in confidence after defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 in their last outing. Goals from William Osula, Dan Burn, and Harvey Barnes propelled Eddie Howe’s team back to victory, enhancing their chances for a top-five finish.

The Magpies signaled their readiness for the upcoming match by posting images from training on their official X account, showing players engaged in intense preparation.

They shared:

Getting set for Sunday

Fans have responded positively in online discussions, speculating about potential lineups, despite worries concerning injuries to key players.

Newcastle has historically performed well at the City Ground and will view this match as another opportunity to secure vital points against a Forest team still reeling from their recent European disappointment.

As both clubs vie for significant achievements late in the season, the matchup on Sunday promises to be fiercely contested and emotionally charged.

Team News

Nottingham Forest is uncertain about the availability of Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, and Ola Aina, with Gibbs-White having appeared on the bench against Aston Villa.

Willy Boly, Callum Hudson-Odoi, John Victor, and Nicolo Savona are all sidelined due to injuries.

Dan Ndoye aims to reclaim his starting position after recovering from injury, while James McAtee may drop from the lineup following his halftime substitution in the last match. Updates to the squad are likely, potentially allowing Dan Ndoye to replace James McAtee.

For Newcastle, Lewis Miley will not play again this season due to a fractured fibula sustained in training. Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, and Emil Krafth also remain out, but Anthony Gordon has returned from a hip injury and is available for selection.

Possible Lineups

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Sels; Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Yates; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Awoniyi

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Tonali, Guimaraes; Barnes, Willock, Joelinton; Osula

How to watch

Match Prediction

Softfootball anticipates a 2-1 victory for Newcastle.

Heading into this matchup, Newcastle appears to be in a better physical and mental state compared to Forest, who may still be grappling with the fallout from their Europa League exit. The expectation is that the Magpies will secure a narrow win in what is expected to be an intense contest.