Nuno urged to drop Morato and start “Brilliant” Forest talent vs Everton

Nottingham Forest return to Premier League action this afternoon as they host Everton at the City Ground, hoping to boost their push for a historic Champions League spot.
With just a handful of games left in the 2024/25 season, every point is crucial for Nuno Espírito Santo and his squad. After last weekend’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, all eyes are on how the Forest boss will shuffle his starting XI.

Injury Doubts Ahead of Everton Clash
Forest will be without several key names for the Everton fixture, including Ola Aina, who remains sidelined with a calf issue. Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga, and Taiwo Awoniyi are all under assessment and could be late calls for selection.
Elanga was forced off at halftime against Villa, while Wood and Awoniyi were already absent from that clash. Nuno confirmed the trio are being “assessed,” but stopped short of offering clarity on their availability for today.

Time for Tactical Tweaks?
Last time out, Nuno opted for a back five against Unai Emery’s Villa — a change from his usual back four. That defensive setup will again be under scrutiny as Forest look to stop an Everton side that’s only lost once in their last eight league matches.
But beyond formation choices, there’s one particular selection decision the manager must consider: whether to drop Morato and hand an opportunity to the in-form Jota Silva.

Why Morato Should Be Benched
Morato, the Brazilian defender signed from Benfica, has often been used off the bench to shore things up late in games. However, his rare league start against Aston Villa did not go to plan.
He was at fault for Villa's opener, failing to deal with a long ball that allowed Morgan Rogers to run through and score. That kind of lapse in concentration could be costly with Champions League football on the line.

Jota Silva Deserves His Chance
One bright spot from the Villa defeat was the performance of Jota Silva, who replaced Elanga at the break and made an immediate impact.
The Portuguese forward scored Forest’s only goal and caused real problems for the Villa backline. His movement, direct running, and energy lifted Forest’s second-half performance, and he looked sharp in a more central role.

A “Brilliant” Option in a Critical Game
Silva has only made four starts this season, but his display at Villa Park showed he’s more than capable of stepping up when it matters. Journalist Jamie Martin recently described him as “brilliant,” and it’s hard to argue after last week’s performance.
With Wood and Awoniyi doubtful, today could be the perfect opportunity for Silva to shine once again — this time from the start.

Forest Must Capitalize at Home
If Nottingham Forest are serious about earning a top-four finish and securing Champions League football, they need to take maximum points at home — starting today.
Starting Silva could provide the attacking spark needed to break down a disciplined Everton side. And with Morato struggling to justify his place, Nuno may have little choice but to make the switch.
The stakes are high at the City Ground. And for Jota Silva, this could be the moment he becomes a Forest hero.