A number of players have distinguished themselves and earned a spot in the Reds starting lineup in Taiwo Awoniyi’s absence due to injury.
Steve Cooper’s annoyance following Nottingham Forest’s Saturday draw with Luton Town was evident.
The Reds had had a positive start to the season before wasting a two-goal lead against the Hatters forced them to settle for a point. Though performances and results hadn’t always coincided, there had been plenty to be positive about.
But when the game reached its halfway point at the City Ground, some jeers broke out because Forest had lost their previous five games. The Reds are undoubtedly still a work in progress, but there are still many reasons to be optimistic.
Cooper’s options were limited over the weekend due to injuries, and they will probably have an impact once more as he gets ready to travel to Liverpool on Sunday. For the match at Anfield, the Welshman must make some important selections, but he also has some players who are securing their spots in the starting lineup.
When it comes to the group that Taiwo Awoniyi belongs to after recovering from an injury, Cooper stated last week that he was “progressing well” in the hopes that his absence would not be prolonged. In light of this, we examine some of the Reds’ key players as they currently stand.
He has only played three games, but already the Brazilian is establishing himself as a key player – as well as a great prospect. There may well come a time when Cooper feels he needs a rest or decides leaving him out of the XI is best for his development, but for now it is his place to lose. The exciting thing is the 21-year-old can get even better as he gets used to the Premier League and gains experience.
The midfielder has really come into his own in recent games. He has come on leaps and bounds in the space of 12 months and now looks really at home in his role. He was excellent against Luton. Playing alongside Nicolas Dominguez and Ibrahim Sangare is helping to get the best out of him. As a trio they work really well together and continue to make strides with every passing week.
Nicolas Dominguez
The Etihad Stadium isn’t the easiest of places to make a debut. Putting in a standout performance on such an occasion is even tougher, but the summer signingemanaged just that. And he hasn’t looked back since. His work-rate is immense and he has taken to English football with ease. A case could be made for including Sangare in this list, given the Reds’ first-choice midfield line-up is clear, but while he is showing signs of finding his feet he hasn’t quite had the same impact as some of his tammates.
A few eyebrows were raised when the 21-year-old was left out of the starting line-up against Brentford earlier this month. It is a rare occurrence. Some had argued Gibbs-White was in need of a breather as he had made a quiet start to the campaign, and he certainly appeared fired up when he came off the bench on that occasion. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man still isn’t quite at his best, but he is always capable of making something happen. And given Forest are limited on attacking options at present, it seems unlikely he will be back among the substitutes any time soon.
