Nottingham Forest’s Jota Silva celebrates with goalscorer Ramon Sosa against Brighton and Hove Albion
On the south coast, Nottingham Forest received a demonstration of what they will miss but also how they can cope when Morgan Gibbs-White serves his one-match suspension.
The Reds ace was sent off in the 83rd minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion as his challenge on Joao Pedro earned him a second yellow card. The dismissal means he will be absent for Saturday’s clash with Fulham (3pm kick-off) at the City Ground.
Not so long ago, the prospect of being without Gibbs-White would have had Reds fans breaking out in a cold sweat. After all, he is Forest’s main man and the one who makes the team tick.
It was a superb pass from Gibbs-White that set Jota Silva on his way before teeing up Ramon Sosa for the visitors’ equaliser at the Amex Stadium. Right at the start of the game, it was from a Gibbs-White ball that Callum Hudson-Odoi won the penalty from which Chris Wood had opened the scoring.
So who will take up the No.10 role in the England international’s absence against the Cottagers? Jota is one option, and the summer signing showed what he has to offer with his assist against the Seagulls.
But head coach Nuno Espirito Santo – who will also be missing at the weekend after himself being shown a red card on Sunday – does have a few possibilities for the role. Below, we take a look at who could fill Gibbs-White’s boots against Fulham.
Forest stats so far: Five appearances, four in the Premier League. Has only started one game up until now, but marked it with a goal as he found the net against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.
Could he do a job? The man known as “the Portuguese Grealish” has looked bright whenever he has got out on the pitch. He always seems keen to get on the ball and try to make something happen. And he has a bit of aggression to his game.
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