Nottingham Forest v Tottenham: the 11 players likely to miss as teams predicted for EFL Cup tie

The City Ground is set to host an all-Premier League tie in the early stages of the EFL Cup on Wednesday as Nottingham Forest host Tottenham Hotspur. It will be the penultimate fixture for both clubs before domestic football goes on hiatus for the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar and returns on Boxing Day.

With multiple Premier League ties taking place in the third round there are set to be a number of big names dropping out which could blow the field wide open. As is ever the case with cup competitions, particularly the EFL Cup, the bigger teams will be expected to rotate their squads heavily compared to how they might usually line up for a Premier League or European fixture.

Nottingham Forest team news and predicted starting XI

After a huge summer of recruitment following their promotion to the Premier League, Steve Cooper has a bumper squad to choose from so there is likely to be significant rotation from their last fixture which saw them draw 2-2 at home to Brentford at the weekend. In terms of the players who will definitely not feature, Omar Richards heads up the list of absentees while Harry Toffolo, Giulian Biancone, Moussa Niakhate and Jack Colback are all also set to miss out.

Former Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard could be in line for a start having only featured as a substitute in the Brentford match while other subs like Sam Surridge and Lewis O’Brien could also be bumped up to the starting XI. Taiwo Awoniyi is another player who could return to the starting line up from the bench and veteran stopper Wayne Hennesy will likely come in between the sticks for Dean Henderson.

Our predicted Nottingham Forest starting XI: Hennessey; Aurier, McKenna, Boly, Lodi; O’Brien, Yates, Mangala; Lingard, Awoniyi and Surridge.

Tottenham Hotspur team news and predicted starting XI

Son Heung-min heads up the list of Spurs players who will be absent for the match as the South Korean attacker continues to recover from surgery to address his fractured eye socket. The 30-year old is not expected to feature for his club again until after the World Cup but is expected to play for his country in Qatar. However, Richarlison could return for Antonio Conte’s side having seemingly recovered from his calf injury.

Back-up keeper Fraser Forster will likely start between the sticks with Hugo Lloris dropping out for the cup competitions while there could also be starting places for the likes of Lucas Moura, Davinson Sanchez, Bryan Gil and Matt Doherty. Going into the World Cup break on a high is likely to be the priority for the North London side so that could see Harry Kane rested with one eye on this weekend’s Premier League fixture with Leeds United.

Our predicted Tottenham Hotspur starting XI: Forster; Doherty, Lenglet,Sanchez, Sessegnon, Tanganga, Skipp, Bissouma; Lucas, Bentancur and Gil.