Nottingham Forest Confirms Europa League Squad Changes: Hutchinson, Lucca, Cunha In; Netz, Ortega Out
Nottingham Forest has made significant changes to their Europa League squad, confirming the inclusion of several new players while omitting others. This strategic update aims to enhance the team’s competitiveness in the prestigious tournament.
New Additions to the Squad
Among the new entrants are:
- Omari Hutchinson – A record signing from Ipswich, valued at £37.5 million.
- Lorenzo Lucca – An Italian forward who joined on loan from Napoli, with a €40 million option for a permanent transfer.
- Jair Cunha – A defender included in the squad to bolster the backline.
Notable Omissions
Interestingly, two recent signings are not part of the squad:
- Luca Netz – A left-back acquired from Borussia Monchengladbach for £1.1 million, seen as a promising talent.
- Stefen Ortega – A goalkeeper who was signed for £500,000 from Manchester City.
Coach Sean Dyche addressed the unexpected exclusion of Hutchinson from the initial squad submitted to UEFA. Dyche emphasized the strategic thinking behind the inclusion of new players, hinting at their potential impact in forthcoming matches.
Goalkeeper Situation
The absence of Ortega suggests optimism regarding Matz Sels, the starting goalkeeper, who is recovering from a groin injury. In his stead, only Angus Gunn, a Scotland international, remains as a senior goalkeeper in the squad.
Squad Overview for the Play-Off Round
Nottingham Forest is set to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off round, preparing for the first leg in Turkey on February 19. The return match will take place at the City Ground one week later. The squad has been strategically compiled to ensure depth and capability in pursuit of advancing to the last 16.
Player Eligibility
Clubs can also include young players born after January 2004 in their Europa League squad’s List B. To qualify, these players must have been registered with the club for two uninterrupted years.
Nottingham Forest’s Europa League List A
| Player Name |
|---|
| Ola Aina |
| Elliot Anderson |
| Dilane Bakwa |
| Murillo |
| Jair Cunha |
| Nicolas Dominguez |
| Morgan Gibbs-White |
| Omari Hutchinson |
| Angus Gunn |
| Callum Hudson-Odoi |
| Lorenzo Lucca |
| Igor Jesus |
| James McAtee |
| Nikola Milenkovic |
| Dan Ndoye |
| Morato |
| Ibrahim Sangare |
| Nicolo Savona |
| Matz Sels |
| Neco Williams |
| Chris Wood |
| Ryan Yates |
This updated squad structure reflects Nottingham Forest’s commitment to building a competitive team in the Europa League. Fans are eager to see how these changes will impact their performance in this crucial tournament.
