Nottingham Forest return to Premier League action on Sunday hoping to recover from their crushing Europa League disappointment when they host Newcastle United at the City Ground.
Forest’s dream of reaching a European final came to an emphatic end on Thursday night as Aston Villa overturned a first-leg deficit with a dominant 4-0 victory at Villa Park, sealing a 4-1 aggregate triumph. The defeat came just days after Forest had impressed with a 3-1 league victory over Chelsea, leaving supporters frustrated by the dramatic contrast in performances.
Now sitting three points behind Newcastle in the Premier League standings, Forest are still battling to secure top-flight safety and end the campaign positively. However, fatigue and injuries continue to create major concerns for the hosts ahead of another demanding encounter.
Newcastle, meanwhile, arrive with renewed momentum after defeating Brighton & Hove Albion 3-1 in an entertaining contest last weekend. Goals from William Osula, Dan Burn, and Harvey Barnes helped Eddie Howe’s side return to winning ways and strengthen their hopes of a top-five finish.
The Magpies also signaled their readiness for Sunday’s clash by posting training-ground images on their official X account, showing players preparing intensely at the club’s training base.
They shared:
Getting set for Sunday
Supporters reacted positively online, discussing possible lineups despite concerns over injuries to several key players.
Newcastle have traditionally enjoyed trips to the City Ground and will believe this is another strong opportunity to claim valuable points against a Forest side still recovering mentally and physically from European heartbreak.
With both teams fighting for important objectives late in the season, Sunday’s clash promises to be highly competitive and emotionally charged.
Team News
Nottingham Forest remain uncertain over the fitness of Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, and Ola Aina, although Gibbs-White returned to the bench against Aston Villa.
Willy Boly, Callum Hudson-Odoi, John Victor, and Nicolo Savona remain sidelined through injury.
Dan Ndoye is pushing for a return to the starting lineup after recovering from injury, while James McAtee could drop out following his halftime substitution in midweek. A couple of changes are inevitable on the hosts’ end as Dan Ndoye could be an option to displace James McAtee.
For Newcastle, Lewis Miley will miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his fibula in training. Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, and Emil Krafth also remain unavailable, though Anthony Gordon has returned to the squad after recovering from a hip problem.
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
| Channel | Region | Kickoff Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports Main Event | United Kingdom | 14:00 BST |
| SuperSport Premier League | Nigeria Africa | 14:00 WAT |
| Peacock Premium | USA | 09:00 ET |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts a 2-1away victory
Newcastle appear better positioned physically and mentally heading into the contest, while Forest may still feel the effects of their Europa League exit. The Magpies are predicted to edge a competitive encounter.
