Head coach Sabri Lamouchi says he will pick his strongest XI for Nottingham Forest’s Carabao Cup clash with Fleetwood Town.
Despite a packed opening month to the season, which sees the Reds facing successive midweek fixtures, Lamouchi is not planning to make a raft of changes at the City Ground on Tuesday night.
The Frenchman has retained the same starting line-up for Forest’s first two Championship games, and he is eager to build some momentum – in both cup and league competitions – as he goes in search of the first victory of his reign.
“I need to find the right balance,” said Lamouchi, whose team earned their first point in the second tier with a 1-1 draw at Leeds United on Saturday. “I’m not here to experiment and to give a chance for some players who have just arrived.
“I just want to pick the best team for tomorrow.
“The priority is the league, but the best way to prepare for the league is to play well and to win tomorrow.
“I will pick the best team tomorrow and the way we want to play is for the victory.
“We are at home and I just want to win soon.
“The last two games it was really important to keep the same first XI because some players came late and some players are behind physically. It gave our team the best chance to be tough opponents against the best team in the league.
“Leeds was a different atmosphere, different intensity and different players. Tomorrow, at home, we will have more possession than we did against Leeds.
“But we have to be careful with this game. It is a totally different game.
“But we are at home and we just need to start the game in our way, keep the ball and impose our rhythm. We have to play for the victory.”
Defender Chema Rodriguez is available for selection tomorrow, having missed the trip to Elland Road.
The deadline day signing has now linked up with the squad after coming over from Spain and took part in his first training session on Monday.
Lamouchi will also consider whether to give some of Forest’s younger players a run-out in the first round tie, with Brennan Johnson and Jayden Richardson having been in the matchday squad for the opening day defeat to West Bromwich Albion.
Asked if some of the youngsters might feature, the manager said: “Yes, but not a lot of them.
“Maybe (Arvin) Appiah, maybe Johnson can be involved.
“But they will still have the chance to play this season. I will give them some moments this year because they are doing great work during the training sessions.”
