Nottinghamshire

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Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche says he expects an injury sustained by Douglas Luiz to not be a "quick situation" and has urged his side to attack Europe with conviction when they face Sturm Graz.

Thursday's fixture offers a timely opportunity for Forest to steady themselves after a turbulent start to the season that has seen them struggle domestically, sitting 19th in the Premier League and with one win in their opening three games in Europe.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, Dyche stressed the importance of balancing the club's European ambitions with the ongoing battle for league form, insisting that his players must embrace both challenges with the same intensity.

Dyche said: "We can see what's happening in the Premier League; there's work to do there. There is in this, of course, everyone wants to be in Europe, including Nottingham Forest. We want to be taking these games on, and it is important that we get a good performance out of the players. We want to come here and win, of course.

"Everybody wanted Nottingham Forest back in Europe, and there is a lot of good feeling about Nottingham Forest and their history in Europe, and we certainly want to give a good show of ourselves.

"You've got to make players aware of the opposition; we have to be aware of that. But really, it still comes down to us. These players play against very good players week in week out in the Premier League, arguably one of the most powerful leagues in the world.

"Of course, Europe feels different, and we've got to handle that and make sure we deliver our performance because if we do that, then we can take care of the results."

Midfielder Luiz - forced off in Saturday's draw with Manchester United - and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will miss the meeting with Sturm Graz.

"Douglas Luiz is going to receive treatment," Dyche told a news conference.

"That is not likely to be a quick situation; we are waiting on more news.

"Callum is hopefully going to be slightly easier. He won't be for this game, but we will see how it goes for the weekend.

"The international break is going to be important for a few players, to give them more of a chance to get fit. Woody is making good progress."

Igor Jesus is suspended for the fixture, while Dyche is without the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Taiwo Awoniyi and Jair Cunha, who were all not included in the Europa League squad.

"We will have to look at changes and rotating," said Dyche.

"I try to win every game, everyone will know that. I'm not one for rotating all the time, but on this occasion I think we have got to be careful with where we're going to make sure our players are fit and ready to deliver."

Image source, BBC/Studio Lambert

Challenges. Leaders and followers. Tactics. Second guessing and wondering where to turn next.

This could be any game of football in the Premier League this weekend.

It is also the plot to any episode of BBC's hit show - The Traitors.

The countdown to the end game of the Celebrity series is on, but, while we wait for that, we want to know which Nottingham Forest player (or manager) - past or present - you think would make the best traitor, and who would be more suited to the role of a faithful.

Was it the way they could appear at the back post without anyone noticing? Or could they stop anybody getting past them?

Get in touch with your choices and the reasons why here

The Celebrity Traitors final will air on Thursday, 6 November on BBC One and iPlayer

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Nottingham Forest have donated £10,000 to Stephen Crean's Just Giving Page after he was praised for his role in confronting an attacker during a mass stabbing on a train travelling to London.

Crean, who is a London based Nottingham Forest supporter, was travelling home from their fixture against Manchester United when the attack occurred, in which 10 people were stabbed.

Crean sustained injuries to his head, back and hands.

The page was originally set up to raise £500 but has now raised over £45,000.

The Just Giving page says that "Steve has been a regular fixture at Forest home and away games for many years, making the long journey up from London, and is well known amongst our fanbase".

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

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I am writing this from above the clouds having set off from London Heathrow airport this morning, on the way to Austria for Nottingham Forest's second Europa League away trip of the season.

Much like the first (to Seville to play Real Betis) there is a sense of adventure and excitement among the travelling fans we have seen, but there is also now the extra added edge of knowing their team desperately needs points after a troubled start to the campaign.

And this is a huge week for potential points-gathering.

On Sunday, Forest play Leeds in the Premier League, already so far adrift of safety that even a win would not be enough to lift them out of the bottom three.

But before that, it is Sturm Graz on Thursday night. With Sunday in mind, Sean Dyche is likely to rest some players for this one but he will also know that a win in any competition at the moment could be huge for him and the team.

Join us for a special programme on BBC Radio Nottingham on Wednesday evening from the Stadion Liebenau in Graz from 18:00 GMT as Colin Fray talks to Sean Dyche, and Steve Hodge reflects on playing Graz in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Listen to full commentary of Sturm Graz v Nottingham Forest from 17:45 GMT on Thursday on BBC Radio Nottingham, 95.1, 95.5 and 103.8 FM.

And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

Manchester United will step up their pursuit of Nottingham Forest's England midfielder Elliot Anderson in January, with the Red Devils believing the 22-year-old is "very keen" on a move to Old Trafford. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Vitor Pereira was sacked at the weekend with his Wolves side propping up the table.

The question is, was he sacked because they are bottom or are they bottom because he and other Wolves managers have been sacked too quickly?

The next Wolves boss will be the fifth in five seasons. Does that really give anyone the time to develop a squad, especially if someone else is choosing the players?

West Ham are on a measly seven points from 30 so far, with a record of three managers in the past 18 months after foolishly getting rid of David Moyes.

With the spirited victory against Newcastle, Nuno Espirito Santo showed that there is a team in there somewhere but will they stick with him?

The other team currently in a relegation spot is Nottingham Forest. They have gone through more than a manager per year in the eight since Evangelos Marinakis got hold of the club, surpassing himself lately with three different managers this season alone.

This many changes can be made to work in the short term. Chelsea did it brilliantly for years with some of the greatest coaches in the world but it cost a huge amount of money. Roman Abramovich had the dosh and was willing to spend it. More crucially, he was allowed to spend it back then with different rules in place.

I would hazard a guess that the three currently at the bottom will each get relegated if they change managers yet again and destroy the last vestiges of stability and any remaining facade of intelligent planning at their clubs.

Any one of them might still go down anyway because of rash decision-making in the past that has finally caught up with them.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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There's a certain irony in Nottingham Forest's ability to be so effective from set pieces at both ends of the pitch last season, only for it to be our undoing this term.

Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United had its controversy, of course, but fundamentally, our inability to defend set pieces again cost us.

Arsenal sit pretty at the top of the table with eight league goals from corners in their first 10 games - a Premier League record, and seven consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.

The Reds, in contrast, have scored just twice from set pieces this season. More worrying is the fact that they have conceded nine league goals from set pieces. Sean Dyche has a lot on his plate at the City Ground, but this is at the top of his to-do list.

Dyche is no stranger to organising his sides, with his Everton side one of the strongest in that respect during his time on Merseyside. Over 40% of the manager's goals have come from dead-ball situations in his Premier League games with both the Toffees and Burnley.

Everton's reliance on them could be attributed to their difficulties in scoring from open play, a problem which Forest have struggled with this season, but one which the Reds have the attacking ability to ultimately address.

At the back, there should be good signs for Dyche, with Matz Sels, Murillo, Nicola Milenkovic and Neco Williams part of last season's successful back five, but organisation and confidence count for everything in these situations.

In the so-called season of set pieces, Forest have been at the wrong end of the trend. But, as proved last year, it's something that can be turned around. Sooner rather than later, we hope.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external