Nottingham Forest vs Wolves injury news: Huge list as 8 players confirmed out and 14 doubts

Wolverhampton Wanderers return to Premier League action with a trip away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. Refreshed after the international break, Julen Lopetegui will be hoping his side can bounce back from the heavy 4-2 defeat to Leeds United that preceded it.

The game is a huge six-pointer in the relegation battle, especially as Wolves have an incredibly difficult run-in to follow. Even despite a couple of weeks away from competitive football, both teams have plenty of injury concerns heading into this weekend – including some exclusions of key players.

Wanderers will have to make do without at least two regular starters as Jonny Otto is suspended and Hwang Hee-chan is still injured. Jonny was handed a straight red card for a horror tackle on Luke Ayling in the loss to Leeds, whereas Hwang missed the internationals with South Korea and is still recovering from a hamstring problem.

There are a few boosts for Lopetegui, however, with one being the availability of Matheus Nunes. The midfielder was shown red in the game against Leeds for complaining at officials from the dugout, but his suspension has since been rescinded by the Football Association.

Another plus is the potential return of Boubacar Traore, as the Mali international has finally recovered following a long spell on the sidelines. “Traore is very close to being ready, he’s 90 per cent normal,” Lopetegui told Express and Star. “He will be ready to compete with the rest of the players, Bouba is a very competitive midfielder.”

Young left-back Hugo Bueno is another player who could be back for the weekend as it has now been four weeks since his hamstring strain in the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. At the start of March, Lopetegui estimated it would be around a month for Bueno’s recovery, so the Spaniard could resume play, albeit doubtfully.

Right-back Nelson Semedo was forced off injured two weeks ago but he will probably be fine to feature in the squad as he played through the problem for a little while in that game. Diego Costa remains a doubt with a knee issue, whereas long-term absentee pairing Sasa Kalajdzic and Chiquinho (also both knee) are likely to miss the rest of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest injury news vs Wolves

The hosts have an incredibly long list of players either ruled out or doubts for the weekend, with over a dozen at risk of missing out. The international break has worked wonders, though, with a whole host of Forest men only doubtful rather than ruled out.

Serge Aurier (knock), Wayne Hennessey (knee), Scott McKenna (thigh), Taiwo Awoniyi (groin), Cheikhou Kouyate (thigh), Dean Henderson (hamstring), Ryan Yates (shoulder), Emmanuel Dennis (toe), Chris Wood (thigh) and Brennan Johnson (groin) are all expected to be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Andre Ayew is a fresh concern with further care required. “Ayew slipped on his way to the dressing room and hurt his knee,” Steve Cooper said on March 24. “Findings of the MRI scan have meant that he has to return to the club for further treatment,” Cooper continued.

Meanwhile, former Wolves favourite Willy Boly will not face his former club at the City Ground as he is out until May with a thigh problem. Giulian Biancone (knee) and Omar Richards (hairline leg fracture) are both likely to miss the rest of the season.

Ruled out: Jonny, Hwang, Kalajdzic, Chiquinho (WOL); Ayew, Boly, Biancone, Richards (NFO).

Doubts: B. Traore, Bueno, Semedo, Costa (WOL); Aurier, Hennessey, McKenna, Awoniyi, Kouyate, Henderson, Yates, Dennis, Wood, Johnson (NFO).