Nuno: Gibbs-White return is ‘very important’ ahead of Forest trip to Chelsea

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Nuno speaking to the media ahead of Forest's trip to Stamford Bridge

By Callum Wright

Nuno Espírito Santo has said that Morgan Gibbs-White’s return will be very important for Nottingham Forest ahead of their visit to Chelsea.

Forest’s impressive unbeaten run came to an end in their previous fixture as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham, with Raúl Jiménez scoring the game’s only goal from the spot.

Vice-captain Gibbs-White was absent from the game following a suspension for a second yellow dismissal away at Brighton.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, head coach Espírito Santo said: “It’s very important to have him [Gibbs White] back, he’s a very special player for us.

“The team relies on him to produce certain things and it’s definitely good to have him back.”

Nuno added the team needs to move on from the performance against Fulham.

“It was not a good game, we didn’t perform well, that’s why we took a deep look at things that didn’t work out,” he said.

“After that it’s about putting a stone in that game and moving forward-Sunday is a big one so we need to be ready for it.”

Forest will play away at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, October 12 (2pm kick-off), with Nuno admitting the side needs to match strong away performances so far this season with improved home form.

“It’s an issue that we must address in the right moments,” said Nuno.

“I think we have to be ourselves, no matter home or away, and when I say that I mean we need to compete-not be afraid of what happens.”

Chelsea sit 4th in the table and are the top scorers in the league, with playmaker Cole Palmer scoring four goals in the Blue’s last game against Brighton.

Speaking on dealing with such a high scoring team, Nuno said: “It’s always important, no matter which opponent you have to realise which strengths they have and how to try and control them.

“The team has been solid and compact in that aspect; it’s teamwork-it’s going to be very important against Chelsea because they have good players and play good football, it will require a lot of effort from us.”

He added that Forest need to make more of the chances they’re creating.

He said: “That’s the big issue in football, finding the balance between the work in both boxes.

“We are producing a lot of situations, we should be more clinical in that aspect and we believe we are going to improve.”

Talking about dealing with a player like Cole Palmer, he added: “We cannot ignore him, but it’s not the game plan based on one person-Chelsea are much more than individual players.”

Following Forest’s defeat to Fulham, owner Evangelos Marinakis was given an FA charge for ‘improper behaviour’, to which Nuno added he was aware of the charge, but not aware of the situation which led to it.

He also confirmed that there are no new injuries ahead of the Chelsea clash, with Danilo and Ibrahim Sangaré remaining the two players out through injury for the Reds.

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