Nuno Espirito Santo hopes Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson will be fit to face Ipswich Town next weekend.
Both midfielders missed the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday as Nuno’s side found themselves outclassed in the capital.
Gibbs-White, 24, travelled to Arsenal but was not fit enough to play as he continues to suffer with an ankle problem he sustained at Chelsea on October 3. While Anderson, 22, was sidelined with a foot issue he suffered against Crystal Palace, later in October.
Both men featured in Forest’s last two games, against West Ham United and Newcastle, and head coach Nuno hopes they will return when his side take on Ipswich next Saturday.
“Both of them were not in the right condition to help the team this week. But we hope they will be for the next one,” said Nuno in his post-match press conference.
“Morgan, since the injury he got at Chelsea… both he and Elliot had made a big effort to help the team before the international break (by playing with injury).”
Forest’s woes were added to when winger Anthony Elanga had to be replaced at half-time, after collecting a shoulder problem shortly before the break.
“Anthony, we need to assess how he is. He started on the right but he had a problem with his shoulder. Anthony is in a lot of pain and we need to wait to see, after he is examined,” said Nuno. “He was not able to continue.”
Bukayo Saka put Arsenal ahead in the first half, before substitutes Thomas Partey and Ethan Nwaneri sealed the game with second-half strikes.
“It was not a good performance. It was not bad, but we did a lot of bad things. We came short in all aspects of the game,” said Nuno, who’s Forest side had previously been unbeaten away from home this season, but have now suffered consecutive defeats, following the 3-1 loss to Newcastle at the City Ground last weekend.
“Offensively we came short and defensively, we have conceded six goals in two games and we have to be worried. We have to put that right this week, to be compact and solid and not give too much time to individual players, players with quality to decide games.”
(Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
