Nottingham Forest have not given up hope of having Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White available against Aston Villa on Thursday despite both suffering recent injuries.
Gibbs-White had several stitches in a facial wound after a collision with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez while Murillo has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury in Forest’s win over Burnley on April 19. His participation at Villa Park remains in the balance.
Daily Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that Forest were expected to look into whether Gibbs-White could wear a protective mask at Villa Park.
Asked about Gibbs-White, boss Vitor Pereira said: ‘It is not a question for me, it’s a decision between the player and medical department. We will have a last meeting to decide. We have a plan with him and without him.’
The pair are among Forest’s most important players. Gibbs-White has 16 goals and six assists in all competitions while Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic are the first-choice centre backs.
Morgan Gibbs-White showed his war wounds on social media after having stitches
Forest know that if they avoid defeat at Aston Villa on Thursday, they will reach the Europa League final, thanks to their 1-0 victory in the first leg at the City Ground.
It is not unusual for players to wear protective gear. Harry Kane scored for Tottenham in the 2016 north London derby at White Hart Lane while wearing a mask over a broken nose. Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen continues to wear one after sustaining serious facial injuries while playing for Napoli in 2021.
Such masks can sometimes be uncomfortable, hindering performance. But Gibbs-White is so important to Forest that if he would surely play if permitted and he is said to be determined to feature.
But having suffered a serious injury only three days earlier, it remains to be seen whether Forest err on the side of caution.
