It was a strong Nottingham Forest side which lined up against Alfreton Town for the Reds’ first pre-season friendly of the summer.
With new boss Sabri Lamouchi set to watch on from the stands, it was Under-23s lead coach Jimmy Gilligan who took charge for .
New signing Sammy Ameobi had to settle for a place on the bench, but there was a return to the first XI for Joe Worrall, following his loan spell at Rangers.
And fellow central defender Michael Dawson was back in action for the first time since December after recovering from injury.
The duo took their places in the heart of what looked set to be a four-man defence in front of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, with youngster Jayden Richardson at right-back and Jack Robinson on the left.
Claudio Yacob, who has been linked with a move to Olympiacos this summer, would take on the holding midfield role in what could be either a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation.
Promising 18-year-old Brennan Johnson could also take his place in the centre of the pitch, though would be equally capable of playing on the wing.
It looked likely Joe Lolley, Joao Carvalho and Arvin Appiah would provide the attacking support for striker Lewis Grabban.
And the Reds had plenty of senior players on the bench, too, including Tobias Figueiredo - who could make his first appearance since December - as well as Liam Bridcutt, who had found himself well down the pecking order last season.
Tyler Walker, back from a loan spell at Mansfield Town, took his place among the substitutes, along with youngsters Tyrese Fornah and George Shelvey.
Luke Steele, Matty Cash, Ben Watson, Ryan Yates, Ben Osborn, Karim Ansarifard and Daryl Murphy completed the bench.
Forest: Pantilimon, Richardson, Dawson, Worrall, Robinson, Yacob, Johnson, Lolley, Carvalho, Appiah, Grabban.
Subs: Steele, Cash, Watson, Figueiredo, Bridcutt, Ameobi, Yates, Osborn, Walker, Ansarifard, Murphy, Fornah, Shelvey.
