AFC Bournemouth will look to take their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 matches, but they will have to overcome title challengers Nottingham Forest first.
Andoni Iraola revealed that his side are still struggling from injuries, though one player might be available for selection on Saturday.
“The only player that has started training with the group is Tav, Marcus Tavernier. But I don’t know if we are going to have him tomorrow,” said Iraola.
“We will have to decide, yes, we will have to decide. Even if we put him on the bench, maybe we don’t use him, I don’t know what we are going to do with him, but he’s the only player that really has started training with the group.”
Tomorrow’s opponents sit four spots and seven points above the Cherries, with Forest taking 25 points from a possible 27 in their previous nine games.
Although the visitors have averaged the lowest amount of possession per game in the Premier League this season, the Bournemouth manager understands the threat that they pose.
“It’s going to be not intriguing, it’s going to be a very difficult match for us, very difficult,” he said.
“Basically they are the most inform team of the league for me. Away from home their numbers are ridiculous, they’ve won seven games, they’ve only lost two and City and Arsenal away.”
Reacting to Forest scoring first 18 out of their last 22 matches, Iraola said: “It is difficult to turn the game against them. We managed to get a point in the last moment against them in the away game.”
“But I think it’s important always to start strong, to win the first duels, to have the first chances.”
“But if they score first also we’ll have to adapt and we cannot give up. But it’s true that it’s going to be important who scores first.”
If the results of Manchester City and Newcastle United do not go their respective ways tomorrow, a win for Bournemouth could take the Cherries up to fifth.
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