It’s always a nervy return from the international break, but for us Blues, Saturday’s trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest is all about maintaining the positive momentum Enzo Maresca has built. That gritty 2-1 win over Liverpool before the break, despite the defensive woes, showed the character is finally blooming, and we simply have to back it up against a tricky, yet struggling, Forest side.
The biggest relief has to be the expected return of Reece James from his precautionary knock. His influence on the right flank is crucial for Maresca’s tactical setup, and having our captain and world-class right-back fit is a huge boost, especially with Cole Palmer still sidelined until November. We need players like Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke to step up and fill the creative void in the final third. The return of Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana also gives us much-needed depth at the back, which has been severely tested recently.
Forest, currently languishing near the bottom, pose a real threat, particularly under new manager Ange Postecoglou, who was appointed just last month. New managers often get a bounce, and they have dangerous players like Morgan Gibbs-White and former Blue Callum Hudson-Odoi who will be eager to prove a point. We saw last season how tough it is to get a result at the City Ground—a venue that is always rocking.
However, Forest’s form is worrying (three losses and two draws in their last five league games). If we can control the midfield battle, leaning on the likes of Moisés Caicedo and the returning Enzo Fernández (if fit), our quality up front should shine through. The City Ground is hostile, but we are chasing European football and cannot afford to drop points here. I’m backing Maresca's men to fight through the noise and secure a vital three points.
