Nottingham Forest team news ahead of facing Aston Villa as key injury concerns identified

Nottingham Forest face anxious waits over several injury concerns ahead of their Europa League semi-final showdown with Aston Villa. The Reds welcome their Premier League counterparts to the City Ground for Thursday's first leg of the last-four encounter (8pm kick-off). Securing an edge before next week's return leg at Villa Park will be crucial, with a spot in next month's final at stake. Centre-half Murillo has been ruled out of Thursday's fixture.

Fellow Brazilian Jair Cunha appears most likely to deputise for his compatriot, though he was substituted with an injury during last Friday's 5-0 demolition of Sunderland. Jair participated in Wednesday morning's training session, offering encouragement that he'll be available to face Villa.

Nevertheless, midfielder Ibrahim Sangare and winger Dan Ndoye were absent from the main squad, completing individual sessions indoors instead, reports Nottinghamshire Live . "Some problems, as every team has in this moment," head coach Vitor Pereira said. "We are at the end of the season and have a lot of games. We will see.

"They (the injured players) are trying. The medical department are trying their best to recover everyone, but we will see which players we have. "For sure, we will start with 11. And I hope we will finish with 11!" Regarding Jair's fitness, Pereira commented: "Our medical department are working hard to put everyone in condition to help us." Sandwiched between the two Villa fixtures, Forest head to Stamford Bridge on Monday for a crucial Premier League encounter with Chelsea.

Whether Murillo will have shaken off a suspected hamstring problem in time for the journey to west London remains uncertain. "He is trying to come back as soon as possible but he is not ready for tomorrow," Pereira said. "He will not be long, I believe. Hopefully a few more days and he will be back.

"I don't have a magic ball so I cannot predict, but I think he is recovering. We'll see." It's been 42 years since the Reds last reached a European semi-final. Pereira is adamant his side will seize the moment with both hands. "It's special for the players," he said.

"It was a long, long road to be here and now it is about enjoying it." "I tell you, the pressure is to be ourselves as a team, to express themselves, for the players to express their qualities on the pitch. It is about doing everything and working hard to get a good result and to play good football. This is the pressure. This is the only pressure that we can have in this moment."