Midfielder Claudio Yacob was brought back into the Nottingham Forest starting line-up for the first time since January as the Reds looked to halt a three-match losing streak.
The former West Bromwich Albion man last made the first XI in Martin O’Neill’s first match as manager, and had only featured three times in total for the Northern Irishman prior to his inclusion against Sheffield United.
It was one of three changes made by boss O’Neill for his team’s penultimate away trip of the campaign, as they took on the promotion-chasing Blades.
Yacob replaced Arvin Appiah in the side, while Daryl Murphy came in for Lewis Grabban up front and an alteration in defence saw Yohan Benalouane recalled in place of Jack Robinson, who dropped out of the squad.
Jack Colback once again looked set to take up the left-back spot, having been given the role last time out in the home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
In the heart of the back line, Benalouane would partner Molla Wague, while Sam Byram held on to the right-back spot and Costel Pantilimon continued in goal.
It looked as though O’Neill would plump for a 4-3-3 formation at Bramall Lane, with Yacob joining Pele and Ryan Yates in front of the back four.
Meanwhile, Murphy would be supported by Matty Cash and Joe Lolley in attack.
Club record signing Joao Carvalho was not included in the matchday squad after suffering a concussion against Rovers, but there was a place on the bench for centre-back Alexander Milosevic, who has not been involved in recent weeks.
Along with Grabban and Appiah, he was joined by Luke Steele, Ben Watson, Ben Osborn and Karim Ansarifard.
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Forest: Pantilimon, Byram, Wague, Benalouane, Colback, Yates, Pele, Yacob, Cash, Murphy, Lolley. Subs: Steele, Grabban, Watson, Osborn, Milosevic, Ansarifard, Appiah.
