Nottingham Forest XI vs. Aston Villa: Predicted XI for Premier League clash

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo will have to work around Alex Moreno's absence for Saturday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa at the City Ground.

The left-back is ineligible on account of not being able to face his parent club, and he will be one of three absentees for the Tricky Trees alongside Danilo (ankle) and Ibrahim Sangare (hamstring).

Moreno was absent from the 3-2 win over Manchester United last weekend anyway, having pushed himself to the limit against Manchester City a few days before, as Neco Williams took up his place on the left.

The former Liverpool defender should reprise that role when Villa come to visit, comprising 20% of an unchanged defence alongside Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Ola Aina and Matz Sels.

Elliot Anderson has likely done enough to hold his spot in midfield alongside Ryan Yates as well, having whipped in a terrific corner for Milenkovic to head home against Man United, so Nicolas Dominguez will surely be restricted to minutes off the bench.

Further forward, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi are attacking shoo-ins, and Jota Silva has probably done enough to hold his spot on the right-hand side over Anthony Elanga.

Chris Wood's 33rd birthday present last weekend was a 10th Premier League goal of the season - and an unrivalled 25th for Forest - and the New Zealand international will spearhead the hosts' charge again.

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Jota, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

> Click here to see how Villa could line up for this match