Nottinghamshire

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Aston Villa (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Ola Aina has had a scan on his calf and he will be "out for a while", with Nuno adding: "It's a big blow and we are going to miss him."

• Chris Wood will be assessed before a decision is made for Saturday as his recovery is "day by day". Callum Hudson-Odoi, who missed Tuesday's win over Manchester United, is available.

• On Anthony Elanga's goal against his former club United: "He is improving because he has been able to play game after game. His team-mates recognise his abilities and his space. That goal on Tuesday was a credit to him and his capacity to drive with the ball and keep increasing the speed while controlling it."

• He said the players' grit and togetherness "has been our foundation since the beginning" but for the final run of games they "have to keep it" going.

• On the team spirit: "It is always nice to work in a good atmosphere and we have been able to spend time together, more than just our job obligations. Results help and you can see on the pitch that the boys are together."

• He said "it's natural" for those relationships to form but sometimes "special people get together and create special moments, and this is an example of that".

• On opponents Villa: "They are a very good team. They reinforced and balanced the squad in the January window but they have been improving since I joined here. They have talent and quality."

• In response to the Opta supercomputer giving Forest a 93.3% chance of making the Champions League: "I am just thinking about today, preparing the boys well tomorrow and then competing well against Villa. The predictions don't dictate our decisions."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest at 17:30 on Saturday

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• Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man Utd

• Liverpool 1-0 Everton

• Newcastle 2-1 Brentford

Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in Algeria striker Mohamed Amoura, 24, who is currently on loan at Wolfsburg from Union St-Gilloise. (L'Equipe - in French), external

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Image source, Getty Images

Former Nottingham Forest defender Wes Morgan has said the atmosphere around the club is "buzzing" and he "can't see any reason why there would be any slip-ups" as Nuno Espirito Santo's side challenge for Champions League football.

As the graphic below shows, Opta's 'supercomputer' now gives the Reds a 93.3% chance of qualifying for Europe's elite competition after Tuesday's 1-0 win over Manchester United.

"Everyone's buzzing - it's a really good feeling and things are just going from strength to strength," Morgan, who now works in the academy at the club, told 5 Live Breakfast.

"You can really see the togetherness in and around the place. We're not there yet, but if you look at the table, there's seven games and you can almost taste it.

"Looking at the fixtures ahead, there's not too many big challenges. The pathway is there and they just need to stay focused and not get carried away.

"It's completely surprised everyone that they're in this position - but deservedly so."

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest's squad has "evolved really nicely" since their promotion three years ago and Champions League qualification would help them build upon it, says former midfielder Andy Reid.

Forest's win over Manchester United on Tuesday opened up an eight-point gap to fourth-placed Chelsea.

"It was tough after playing 120 minutes against Brighton with a lot of recovery and preparation involved but Nuno made some really good changes in game," Reid told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He replaced players at the right time and gave Forest a real good platform to hold out and win a massive three points.

"When you think back to Forest being promoted three years ago, the turnover in players has been massive. The squad has evolved really nicely and the recruitment over the last two years has been very well thought through."

Forest overcame injuries to key players Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi to hold off United but Reid recognises the squad will need investment to thrive at the next level.

"To get into the Champions League and hold onto your top players is obviously massive but the income that it generates and being able to invest again also is," he said. "The owner is very ambitious and wants to have top-level success. He puts his money where his mouth is but with the financial rules you have to back it up with income.

"It's going to be very interesting to see where this journey takes us and it's so exciting for the Forest fans who for so many years have had it really tough.

"They can enjoy it and they are proud to come and support their team."

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Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's 1-0 victory against Manchester United on Tuesday evening.

Here are some of your comments:

Tom: Wow, it's never over until the final whistle with Forest! But a great backs-to-the-wall effort and Murillo did what he does, in the right place at right time!

Ken: The teams we beat don't like our style, mainly because it's mightily successful. We don't try to be something we are not. We have a squad where even the fringe players want their squad mates to succeed - there's no bitterness there at all. Next season will be the test. We will need 10 more quality players to cope with the extra games we will have if we qualify for Europe, but as Cloughie said: "I hope anybody isn't stupid enough to write us off!"

Kris: It was another solid defensive display with devastating counter attacking and a brilliant goal to take the three points. Elanga got the plaudits, but Yates, Williams and Murillo really shone. With Wood and Hudson-Odoi, we would have made even lighter work of a team that lacked any cutting edge. The Champions League dream gets closer!

David: Very proud of our guys. I was worried with only getting three days rest between games. Anthony Elanga definitely had a score to settle with Man Utd. One more game down. Only a handful left to play. I actually think we can take some silverware this season as well.

James: What a win for Forest! Even when we were under the cosh, and just days after 120 mins and penalties at Brighton, we were so well organised and kept believing. The fans were incredible. Forest would be an asset to the Champions League!

John: No doubt much of the media will focus on United but hey, who cares. A masterclass goal from Elanga; a masterclass on how to defend a lead and concentrate until the final whistle and a masterclass from Yates on controlling the midfield. A superb performance especially after extra time and penalties on Saturday. Total commitment again. As a fan, you can't ask for better than this.

Samuel: Credit must go to Nuno Espirito Santo for how he has come into this club, following Steve Cooper after all he did, and transitioned these players into such a well organised team. They fight for one another and the crowd. The atmosphere around the club is electric. Thing is, they're just getting better and better. He must get manager of the season! I fancy us to beat Man City at Wembley as well!

Nottingham Forest, Arsenal and Newcastle are among the clubs interested in Roma's 25-year-old Ivory Coast defender Evan Ndicka, who is rated at 40m euros (£33.4m). (Caught Offside), external

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