In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, the Forest boss said hemained hopeful of having his attacking options bolstered for the meeting with the Toffees. “We are hopeful on all of them,” he said of Wood, Awoniyi and Elanga. “It can be all of them or it can be none, we don’t know. It depends on how they feel.”

Having top scorer Wood back would be a huge boost. But if either or both of the New Zealander and Awoniyi are fit it would certainly help when it comes to choosing a formation.

It was a makeshift set-up in the West Midlands last weekend, with Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi supporting Morgan Gibbs-White at the top end of the pitch. After a tough first half, it was Jota Silva who came on in place of Elanga and made a difference for the visitors.

If the Reds are still without Wood and Awoniyi, Jota must be in contention to start up front this time around. He ruffled a few feathers against Villa and took his goal well, plus operating as a forward is not new to him.

Nuno will still be without full-back Ola Aina, but having Alex Moreno available again after he was ineligible to face parent club Villa should make for a more balanced back line.

Forest went with a back three last weekend but it was a difficult afternoon for Morato and it would come as no surprise should Nuno revert to his usual four-man defence. Neco Williams could switch to right-back to allow Moreno to come in on the left.