“Manager Nuno Espirito Santo offered a mixed bag of updates on his walking wounded squad –
it’s always worrying when a player gets hurt on his own but….”

Nottingham Forest are starting to make a habit of outfoxing Manchester United in the Premier League. Last night, they clinched a 1-0 victory at the City Ground, racking up their third straight league win and carving out a comfortable 10-point cushion over the sixth spot. But the triumph over United didn’t come without its share of setbacks.

The game took a sour turn in the 39th minute when Ola Aina hobbled off, replaced by Alex Moreno after the Nigerian went down without any contact from an opponent. This injury added to an already growing list of concerns: Callum Hudson-Odoi had been scratched from the lineup pre-match due to a personal matter, and Chris Wood was already sidelined with a nagging hip problem. The win, while sweet, left Forest counting the cost.

Post-match, manager Nuno Espirito Santo offered a mixed bag of updates on his walking wounded. Speaking to The Athletic, he expressed particular concern about Aina’s mysterious injury. “I can’t say much yet—it’s always worrying when a player gets hurt on his own,” he explained.

“We’ll get him a scan and take it from there. I’m not sure exactly what’s wrong, but the scan will give us clarity.” On Wood, he sounded cautiously optimistic: “We’re keeping an eye on Chris daily.

It’s improving, and I’m hoping tomorrow brings more progress.” As for Hudson-Odoi, there’s light at the end of the tunnel: “I think we’ll have Callum back for the weekend—I’m hopeful about that.”

Forest have dodged major injury bullets for much of the season, but as the campaign hits its critical stretch, the cracks are starting to show.

Against United, the substitutes stepped up admirably, with several players making a strong case for more minutes in the upcoming weekend clash.

With a Champions League spot tantalizingly within reach for next season, the Reds can’t afford to let their momentum slip—every performance counts.

Losing Hudson-Odoi before the United game stung, but his potential return on Saturday could lift spirits.

Meanwhile, Forest fans will be crossing their fingers for good news on Wood and Aina as the week unfolds. Nuno now faces the challenge of juggling his squad’s depth to keep the dream alive.