Nottingham Forest are facing a nervous wait over key player fitness ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash with Burnley, following a hard-earned Europa League victory over FC Porto.
Although Forest edged through with a 1-0 win in the semi-final second leg, the spotlight quickly shifted from celebration to concern as multiple players were forced off through injury.
Leading the worries is striker Chris Wood, who made an early exit after a heavy challenge from Jan Bednarek: a tackle that resulted in a red card.
Wood, recently back from knee surgery, left the pitch with assistance, though initial reports suggest the issue is unrelated to his previously injured knee.
As the game wore on, the injury list grew, with both Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi also unable to complete the match after going down off the ball in the second half.
Speaking after the final whistle, Forest boss Vitor Pereira offered a cautiously optimistic update on two of his players, while confirming a setback for another.
“I’m not a doctor but I think Chris and Murillo will not be anything special. Of course, Chris has a bruise on his knee but I believe that him and Murillo will be ready for Burnley,” said Pereira.
However, the news was less encouraging when it came to Hudson-Odoi, whose absence now looks certain for the weekend fixture.
“Callum has a muscle injury and it is not possible, that’s the bad news.”
With the Burnley clash fast approaching, Forest will now look to recover quickly and maintain their momentum, even as they manage a growing list of fitness concerns at a crucial stage of the season.
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