Nottingham Forest’s Opening Match
The Premier League 2026-27 opener for Nottingham Forest will be played at the City Ground on Saturday, August 22, against Leeds United. Head coach Oliver Glasner, making his competitive debut, issued a full injury update ahead of the fixture.
Players Out for the Opener
Glasner confirmed that full-back Nicolo Savona and captain Ryan Yates will not be in the matchday squad. "Ryan Yates and Savona won’t make the matchday squad," Glasner said, noting that 23 players are fit and five cannot play.
Nicolo Savona
Savona, 23, suffered a knee injury last season that required surgery and forced him to miss the end of the previous Premier League campaign. He has not fully recovered; a setback in his rehabilitation has kept him out. Glasner said Savona has returned to training but will need a few more weeks to regain fitness.
Ryan Yates
Yates, an English midfielder, played 45 minutes in a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen but failed to make the squad for the final pre-season match against Stade Brestois. An unspecified issue has ruled him out of the opener.
Squad Implications
With Savona and Yates absent, Forest will have to field a team missing two key contributors. Glasner emphasized that every player has shown readiness during pre-season and he will decide the final lineup by tomorrow.
Looking Ahead
Both injured players are expected to return in the coming weeks. The club will monitor their progress as the season begins.
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