Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was giving little away on his selection headaches ahead of a clash with Manchester United on Tuesday night.
High-flying Forest are having fun with an incredible season as they sit third within the Premier League table with just nine games to play.
Nevertheless, there was frustrating news of late on the injury front, with two of their star performers suffering setbacks.
Morgan Gibbs-White collided with a post throughout the FA Cup quarter-final win over Brighton on the weekend, while Chris Wood missed that game after suffering a hip problem on international duty with Latest Zealand.
Espirito Santo was asked in regards to the English midfielder first, telling a press conference on Monday that he will likely be assessed right up till Tuesday afternoon before the meeting with the Red Devils.
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‘We’d like to evaluate lots of the players. We’re doing this,’ said the Forest boss. ‘The sport is afterward within the day, so we may have the remainder of today, the morning and the afternoon to evaluate the players. We are going to make a call on them then.
On Wood’s progress, he added: ‘He’s improving. He’s convalescing daily.
‘We have now to evaluate him day-after-day. It’s all about him being pain free after which getting back to fitness. We’re recovering well.
‘The enjoyment and the happiness of coming through and attending to play at Wembley will give us an additional run for tomorrow, of course.’
It has been a fast turnaround after playing 120 minutes against Brighton on Saturday, followed by the penalty shootout win, which the Portuguese admits is hard on his squad.
‘It’s very difficult on the players but we see them they usually are recovering well,’ he said. ‘They’re at all times being positive so we’re confident we will perform again against a superb team.
‘On this short turnaround, it’s all about recovering. We’re going to be OK.’
Every game is big for Nottingham Forest as they proceed their push for the unlikeliest of Champions League finishes, so the manager will want his star men back as quickly as possible but without rushing them and risking further injury.
The sport against Manchester United on the City Ground is followed by a visit to Aston Villa after which a house meeting with Everton and an away match at Tottenham, before the massive FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on April 26.
While Espirito Santo has concerns over two key players one other standout performer will likely be fit and able to go on Tuesday in the shape of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
‘He’s improving. He has had some outstanding performances this season and is convalescing and higher,’ his manager said of the winger. ‘You might have to have pleasure and luxuriate in who you’re employed with and Callum is a completely satisfied boy playing and dealing together with his team-mates.’
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