Nottingham

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Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates says he still harbours hopes of representing England.

The 26-year-old has helped Forest make an excellent start to the Premier League season.

"It's always a possibility, it is every young boy's dream to play for their country," he said. "I feel like I am playing really well, but I feel like I can give even more.

"I feel I have got plenty more to come. I honestly take each day as it comes, but I want to keep improving and I never say never to anything.

"I just look back when I was on loan at Barrow, Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury and now I am playing in the Premier League with Forest, third season, anything is possible because there were some dark times when I was on loan."

Yates feels he has improved as a player since Forest won promotion to the Premier League in 2022 and he added: "I do feel this is where I belong.

"This is my third season now, I feel I have progressed year on year and will continue to do so. I am really progressing under Nuno and I am pushing for more."

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Nottingham Forest have won their last two Premier League games – they last won three in a row in the top flight in May 1999.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno was asked about the press conference he did with 'Warriors United', a club for children and young adults with learning disabilities in Nottinghamshire, earlier this week: "It was a nice moment and a moment for awareness. I saw the Paralympics and I was impressed by the amazing things that people can do. The bond between us, the club and the beautiful city of Nottingham - we are getting close."

• On team news: "We have some issues that we are still assessing. [Morgan Gibbs-White] is part of the group that we have to assess. Chris [Wood], Elliot [Anderson] and Jota [Silva] have knocks."

• He addressed the rumours of contract negotiations with in-form striker Wood: "Nothing has changed. Chris is OK and doing fantastic for us. What it means to have him and his goals is more important. All things will happen naturally."

• When asked if the forward is underrated: "I cannot answer that. What he has is a huge amount of respect from all of us because he is a top professional and delivers from so many situations."

• On Saturday's opponents West Ham: "They are a very good team. They are coming from a high [after beating Manchester United]. They have a good group of experienced players and have a very good manager. Our standards must be very high."

• On the strong bond that midfielder James Ward-Prowse commented on: "I just try to provide the right environment for them to build it. Being together is the best thing. The more time they spend together, it creates bonds on and off the pitch. We work with each other for the same purpose."

• On Matz Sels' impressive form: "When we are talking about individual positions, goalkeeper is so specific and special. Confidence plays a big part, not only for him but transmitting it to the team. It makes us better and we are delighted."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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James Ward-Prowse has spoken about the "fantastic group" of players and staff at Nottingham Forest, and his hopes that the club "challenge for something really special this season".

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about his time so far at the club, Ward-Prowse said: "I've settled in very well, it's been a fantastic group to come into.

"I've been welcomed in straight away and it's a pleasure coming into training every day and working with the players and the staff - it's been a real pleasure so far and we're looking to hopefully build."

Forest are seventh in the Premier League and the on-loan West Ham midfielder believes the camaraderie amongst the squad is key to that.

He said: "You need that to perform well in the Premier League, you can't get by on ability alone, you need a bit of togetherness and to suffer together - when you do that, you need good people around you.

"I can look around the team and bench and see a real good group of lads who are willing to fight for each other and you need that in those difficult moments in games to get results.

"The challenge is to build on the great start, we can't get carried away with how well we've been doing, but we need to focus on building on what we've done and hopefully that will leave us in good stead to challenge for something really special this season."

On Saturday, Forest face West Ham - Ward-Prowse's parent club. Speaking about the 13th-placed Hammers, he said: "The start's not been the best for them but it's still a squad full of Premier League-quality players who can hurt you at any moment.

"It's going to be a strange game watching it from a neutral perspective - I'll be sitting on my hands either way!"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Saturday's game at the City Ground will be the first time West Ham United have played a Premier League game outside of London this season.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.

There are reflections on Friday's win at Leicester and midfielder James Ward-Prowse joins Colin Fray, ahead of Forest facing his parent club West Ham this weekend.

Listen to the full episode