Nottingham Forest lineup vs. Malmo: Predicted XI for Europa League clash

Nottingham Forest could be without as many as nine players for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Malmo at the City Ground.

Ola Aina (thigh), Douglas Luiz (thigh), Chris Wood (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (hip), Dilane Bakwa (unspecified) and Angus Gunn (knee) all remain sidelined with injuries. Gunn is also ineligible along with Taiwo Awoniyi, Omari Hutchinson and Jair Cunha who were not selected in Forest’s Europa League squad.

After securing a deserved 3-0 away victory over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool last weekend, Sean Dyche will be tempted to stick with the same starting lineup on Thursday, but he is expected to freshen up his team in a few positions.

John Victor will hope to earn a recall between the sticks at the expense of Matz Sels, while Morato could replace either Nikola Milenkovic or Murillo - who scored against Liverpool - at centre-back.

Nicolo Savona also scored at Anfield and he is set to continue at right-back as Neco Williams operates on the opposite side, while Ryan Yates and James McAtee will be pushing to start in midfield at the expense of Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare or Nicolas Dominguez.

Morgan Gibbs-White - who missed a penalty in a 0-0 draw with Sturm Graz before scoring against Liverpool - may continue in an advanced central role in behind either Igor Jesus or Arnaud Kalimuendo up front.

Dan Ndoye could retain his starting spot in the right flank, while Callum Hudson-Odoi will hope to earn a recall on the opposite wing after recovering from a thigh problem to feature as a substitute against Liverpool.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Victor; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Yates, Sangare; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Kalimuendo