Nottinghamshire

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

Image source, Getty Images

When Sean Dyche was speaking to us pitchside at Graz's Merkur Arena on Wednesday night, he mentioned he had brought young players with the squad "as a necessity", which begs the question: how has it come to this already?

Forest spent about £200m in the summer, receiving roughly half that amount in sales, with the idea of building a squad capable of competing on several fronts. So how are they short of numbers already?

Well, let's look at the strikers. Chris Wood is injured, Igor Jesus is suspended (after being booked in all three of Forest's European games), and Taiwo Awoniyi was not named in the Europa League squad by Nuno Espirito Santo, which leaves you with one fit senior striker for the meeting with Sturm Graz - Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Similarly, with the wingers, Omari Hutchinson was excluded from the squad by Nuno, and now the Reds have injuries to both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dilane Bakwa, leaving Dan Ndoye as the only senior out-and-out winger.

The other fact worth noting is that you can name 12 subs for a Europa League game, so most clubs would quickly be resorting to young players once they have a few injuries anyway.

But, with Forest having one eye on a massive Premier League game against Leeds United at the City Ground on Sunday, the last thing they need is any more injuries picked up later.

Dyche is juggling that with the fact that a victory of any kind, against any opposition in any competition, would also be very welcome, with Forest having won just once anywhere since opening day.

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With the countdown to the Celebrity Traitors final under way, we asked you which Nottingham Forest player or manager - past or present - would make the best traitor and faithful.

Here are some of your comments:

Toby: Is it too soon to say Ange Postecoglou would 100% be a traitor? Neco Williams 100% a faithful, along with Ryan Yates. On the fence about Morgan Gibbs-White, I must say.

Phil: Biggest faithful - Bob McKinlay. 682 appearances over 18 years. Traitor - Pierre van Hooijdonk. Went on strike because he thought he was bigger than the club.

Kevin: The obvious traitor is Van Hooijdonk and that doesn't need much explanation. A talented player but no loyalty whatsoever. For faithful, I would probably go for Steve Chettle. Nottingham lad, came through the ranks and didn't really want to leave.

Rob: Nuno Espirito Santo would be ideally suited to being a traitor. He has even got a decent track record - earn the trust of those around you, dazzle them with flattery and a brief wave of success, then... bam! Leave them in the lurch and move on to someone new.

Paddy: Forest faithful would have to be Yates, our captain and local lad. Doubtful we would ever get a bid that might test his faith though. Traitor seems harsh, but Gibbs-White's dalliance with Spurs left a sour taste in some mouths and he hasn't performed at his best since.

You can watch the final of The Celebrity Traitors live from 21:00 GMT on BBC iPlayer

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Nottingham Forest's European campaign continues on Thursday night as they face Austrian side Sturm Graz in the Europa League, but Sean Dyche's squad is facing a serious test of depth.

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham, Forest commentator Colin Fray outlined the scale of the selection challenge and the balancing act Dyche faces as he looks to keep their European hopes alive.

Dyche's preparations for the trip to Austria have been complicated by an extensive list of absentees, with several key players unavailable due to injury, suspension, or squad restriction.

"Everybody knew when Forest qualified for Europe that it would be a juggling act this season," Fray said. "And at the moment, they have got as many points from three Europa League games as they have in the entire of the Premier League season.

"But he (Sean Dyche) has got issues tonight, and you could tell that was on his mind a little bit. He's got at least 10 players unavailable tonight due to either not being in the squad, being suspended or due to injuries.

"And not included in that 10 is Elliot Anderson, who's not amongst the party of players who were at the ground last night. Potentially, 11 players unavailable for him tonight."

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Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams has urged the team to avoid "regret" and "kick on" in Europe.

The Reds face Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday and speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray, Williams reflected on a squad that knows the urgency of the moment but is eager to prove it belongs on both domestic and European stages.

The Reds currently sit 17th in the Europa League table after one win, one draw and one defeat, and with a faltering domestic form that includes six losses in their opening 10 Premier League games.

"It's been a mixed set, obviously very different opponents, but we are ready for it," said Williams.

"Three games in now, there's no time to adjust to the games, teams and the atmosphere. We've really got to kick on now, and I think it's so important that we start ticking off these points because we don't want to look back on regret of coming to places like this and not performing and not getting any points.

"This is not a tournament that we just want to be a part of. We are in this tournament to win it, and we all believe that we will as long as we are performing and doing everything the manager says, tactics-wise, sticking to the game plan, and just giving it our all.

"We know as a team that we can do better, and we will do better. It's just about the basics for me - you have to work hard, you have to give absolutely everything out on the pitch."

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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

Image source, Getty Images

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.