Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premier League game against Tottenham at the City Ground (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Ryan Yates is likely to be out for the rest of the year with his hamstring injury as Dyche “doubts” the midfielder will be seen until January.
- Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz all returned from injury to feature against Utrecht in the Europa League on Thursday and Dyche said it was “nice” to see some experienced players back to full fitness.
- The boss is expecting the same personnel available to face Spurs: “We’ve asked a lot of the players there but we’ve had no adverse reactions so far and it’s important we keep that squad together. It’s nice to have some very important players looking fit. Some still a bit short but they’re getting there. It’s nice seeing some of these faces who are very good players coming back to full fitness and on the bench or starting of course.”
- Ibrahim Sangare has “earned his place back in the side” but his absence for the Africa Cup of Nations from next week will provide another “challenge”.
- Meanwhile, Dyche explained why Ola Aina will not be joining up with the Nigeria squad despite requests from the country’s FA: “It’s just that he’s not fit – he hasn’t been fit and he’s still not fit. He hasn’t played any football yet. So, that’s all we can offer to that situation. We’ve made that very clear.”
- Dyche defended James McAtee for his slow start to life at Forest, and said the 23-year-old is “still learning” but is “wise enough” to take on advice.
- On Tottenham: “Their home form has been heavily questioned but their away form hasn’t because they’ve been strong. They’ve got some very good individual players and Thomas [Frank] is a wily fox in the Premier League now after years at Brentford. A new challenge for him and a new challenge for me. Different circumstances I think.”
- He is not underestimating the difficulties Spurs will pose but backed Forest to cope: “I’ve read about some of the players they’ve brought in – they’ve spent a heck of a lot of money so it’s a big challenge. I think we’re in good shape and we’re at the City Ground and that’s a big factor. We take this game on gladly and I want us to perform. Anything I think of Thomas as a bloke goes out the window for those 90-odd minutes and he knows that.”
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