Nottinghamshire

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Ex-Nottingham Forest captain and manager Stuart Pearce, speaking to Talksport about the supportive messages from his former club following his health scare earlier in the week:

"It was incredibly humbling. It was really nice to hear Nuno's message as well and that I am part of their family and my history with the club dictates that.

"Fantastically humbling, it really was, but it's what I expect from that football club - they're incredible."

On his health and recovery: "I had a virus that just sort of attached itself to my heart that just needed clearing, rebooting and going through the process I think.

"When I get home I obviously will have some medical checks there and go and see my GP and one or two other things, I'm sure.

"But I feel brilliant in myself and have done since mid-last week to be honest with you, but I'm in really good hands."

• Read more from Pearce here

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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One of Nottingham Forest's biggest problems in recent years has been not knowing their best starting XI.

Of course, that was largely down to the well-documented amount of signings the club made after coming up from the Championship.

That promotion-winning season had a fairly predictable starting XI, with only the occasional injury or tactical tweak changing the line-up. Ryan Yates is now the sole survivor of that entire play-off final squad.

Loan signings were a key part of that team, which explains much of the rebuilding job that has been done since, but the advantage Nuno Espirito Santo has had this season is that the core of his current squad are not all new arrivals.

The key additions of Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson last summer were the final jigsaw pieces of a well-rounded side.

Forest have been extremely fortunate with injuries this season, although this is down to lessons being learned from previous years. The fitness and conditioning staff that have been put in place are absolutely proving their worth.

Plus, Nuno's focus on working with a smaller squad has been made possible by a natural reduction due to expiring contracts and the end of loan deals.

All of this has meant the Reds' line-up for most of this season has been fairly settled. Partnerships have formed and understandings have developed, with confidence and belief growing from that consistency.

That is why this well-drilled team, as we saw on Saturday, were able to nullify current Premier League champions Manchester City - as well as Arsenal and other opponents - with a game plan that shifted in formation throughout the 90 minutes.

Forest's success this season is very simple on paper - we have a team of talented individuals who complement each other and know how to perform their roles to a tee, plus a manager playing to their strengths and personalities.

Not everything works out in reality, but could it be that the stars are aligning - the two on the crest specifically - for this great club to take its place at Europe's top table again?

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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The Nottingham Forest v Manchester City game should have been considered the tie of the weekend, after all this was third v fourth, but it didn't get that billing.‌

The reasons were that City aren't the team of recent years and Forest aren't one of the big-name clubs, even though as twice European Champions in days gone by, they could make a decent argument against that outlook.‌

It takes a few years at the business end of the Premier League to be considered box office and even if that is harsh on those who visit the top four or five now and again, it is just the deal. It doesn't take anything away from the fact that Nuno's men beat Pep's and already no-one is particularly surprised.

Many Forest players are rightly being considered for England call ups. Ola Aina chose Nigeria as the call from England took too long, but Morgan Gibbs-White should add to his measly two caps very soon even in a crowded creative midfield area where Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and, yes, even Cole Palmer are each having relatively lean spells.‌

Callum Hudson-Odoi is another who might get a chance after a six-year long international absence. His weakness back in those Chelsea days was that he stopped taking players on after a serious injury. He has rectified that now with the help of a supportive manager and a playing style that suits him.‌

It is still a big ask for Forest to hold on to this form, but every week it looks more likely that they may grace the Champions League again very soon, something that even the staunchest Forest fan would not have believed 12 months ago.

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Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo remains a key figure for Nuno Espirito Santo's side, so it is hard to believe he made so few first team appearances for Brazil's top flight team Corinthians before signing in 2023.

"This is a magnificent piece of scouting," South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"It was 25 games and out. Forest must have had him on their radar after 10 first team performances and what a bargain they got, and what a profit they are going to make."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds