The Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United team news is in, and it is the hosts who have taken the bigger hit. Oliver Glasner confirmed at Thursday’s press conference that captain Ryan Yates and defender Nicolo Savona will both miss Saturday’s 3pm kick-off at the City Ground — the new Forest boss’s first competitive match in charge of the Reds.
Daniel Farke has his own absentees. Willy Gnonto, who picked up a hamstring problem against Manchester United in Dublin, and left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson, out with a muscular injury since the pre-season win over Liverpool, were both ruled out of the opener, as the Yorkshire Evening Post’s combined round-up sets out. Beyond that pair, Farke says he has a clean bill of health — Nico Elvedi included, once his registration was completed.
What Glasner said on the Forest absences
“Ryan Yates and Savona won’t make the matchday squad,” Glasner said, as quoted by the YEP via Forest’s official website. “But we still have 23 fit players, which means five can’t make the squad.” On Savona, he added: “We thought he would be further than where he is now. He had a minor setback after his knee reacted more with the load than we wanted… I think it will take a couple of weeks.”
Losing a captain who sets the tempo in midfield is no small thing on opening weekend, and the Whites travel with the fresher squad. Our predicted Leeds XI for the trip has three debutants starting; with Rob Jones refereeing, expect a busy afternoon. Team sheets land at 2pm.
