Nottingham Forest face selection test as they look to ease relegation fears at Leeds

Nottingham Forest head to Leeds United on Friday night with several selection doubts ahead of a pivotal relegation battle.

Sean Dyche's men travel to Elland Road knowing margins are tightening at the bottom of the Premier League table, with both sides searching for points that could ease pressure rather than deepen it.

Leeds United sit close enough to Forest for the fixture to carry clear significance, with momentum and availability likely to shape the contest as much as form.

Injuries add pressure before Elland Road test

Forest’s options were stretched during last weekend’s draw with Crystal Palace, a match that left them light in several areas before the final whistle.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels did not return after half-time after reporting discomfort, while Callum Hudson-Odoi was withdrawn earlier than planned with a shoulder issue, leaving both players racing the clock ahead of Friday’s trip.

Neco Williams will miss the game due to suspension after his red card against Palace, further limiting Forest's defensive options, while Nicolo Savona continues to manage a knee problem that has already disrupted his availability.

Those absences leave Forest facing decisions across the back line and in goal, with little room for rotation in a fixture expected to be played at high tempo.

Chris Wood remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from knee surgery, reducing Forest’s attacking depth at a time when alternatives are already limited.

Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Who could step up for Forest

Any enforced changes could shift responsibility onto players who have featured more sporadically this season.

If Sels is unable to recover in time, Forest may be required to make a change in goal with new signing Stefan Ortega Moreno, while Williams’ suspension and Savona’s situation increase the likelihood of a defensive reshuffle.

Further forward, Wood’s continued absence places greater emphasis on Forest’s supporting attackers to provide a threat.

Leeds, meanwhile, will view home advantage as a key factor, particularly in a match likely to be shaped by physical intensity and territory rather than control.

Should Forest be concerned? 

The selection difficulties ahead for Dyche and his side do not help ease the Forest fans fears, who are yet to be convinced by the manager since he replaced Ange Postecoglou in November. 

Despite his obvious ties to the club, Dyche hasn't quite managed to steer the Midlanders out of trouble, and it's only West Ham's poor run of form that has prevented them from being nearer the bottom three. 

However, former Forest striker Robert Earnshaw has been quick to ease those relegation concerns. Talking exclusively to DAZN News, thanks to SportsbookReview.com, known for listing and reviewing offers such as the  BetMGM bonus code , the Welshman believes Forest will still be a Premier League team at the end of the season. 

"I think they've got enough," he said.  Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images

"I think what we'll see is a better second half of the season than the first half of the season, because it couldn't have gone any worse, really. I think Europe has brilliant, really, really good, but I think with the changes of manager, with the results, the poor start, all of those things and more, the drama behind the scenes has been a lot.

"I think it's going to be very, very tough and very, very hard and I think it's going to go down to the last kind of two or three games, though, but I think they can do it." 

Six points currently separate both Forest and Leeds going into their key clash on Friday night, and Forest’s ability to absorb disruption and settle quickly may prove just as important as their starting XI in a fixture that could influence the weeks ahead.

 

How to watch the Premier League in Canada

Soccer fans in Canada can watch every Premier League match during the 2025-26 season on DAZN.

With Fubo Sports on DAZN, Canadians can catch Premier League action as well as Serie A. Additionally, DAZN is the home of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Bundesliga, and more.

For pricing information and to sign up to watch, click here.