PREMIER LEAGUE
Will Gio Reyna play against Manchester United?
The USMNT youngster has struggled for game-time since moving to the Premier League but could feature for Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Nottingham Forest take on Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Head coach Nuno Espirito Santos is currently struggling with a raft of injuries to first team players, meaning that young forward Gio Reyna could get an opportunity against United.
Reyna arrived at the City Ground in January, a six-month loan from Borussia Dortmund. The 21-year-old had fallen down the pecking order at the Bundesliga giants but has also struggled to make an impact in his first month in England.
With Forest set to face Manchester United and Liverpool in the next four days, Reyna could get some game-time.
“No, unfortunately nothing has changed. We still have the problems of the injured players, so it’s basically the same,” Forest boss Espirito Santos explained ahead of the Man Utd clash.
“Noboday can doubt that going forward we are doing well. We are scoring goals, creating chances, with good momentum and good play. But at the same time we have to improve because football is made of offensive and defensive. Being solid has to be our main target.”
Reyna is yet to start a game for Forest, managing just three substitute appearances for the Premier League side.
Forest may turn to versatile Reyna against Man Utd
Nottingham forest received a major blow earlier this week with the news that relegation rivals Everton had had their 10-point deduction reduced to six. The Toffees were hit with the penalty for breaching the league’s financial regulations, but have had it reduced on appeal.
That four-point change was enough to see Everton leapfrog Forest and leave Espirito Santos’ side in 17th, just one place above the relegation places. With the likes of Chris Wood and Ibrahim Sangare still absent due to injury the Forest boss may turn to Reyna to provide the attacking spark.
“He’s another offensive option,” he said of the USMNT star when the signing was announced. “He’s a very good player with a lot of potential. He can play in high or wide areas, he can play central, so he can give us the versatility that we need.”
We could see Reyna enter in place of one of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White or Anthony Elanga, the first-choice attacking trio behind Taiwo Awoniyi. Reyna’s versatility makes him a possible replacement for any of the talented trio and the Manchester United clash would be the perfect opportunity for the USMNT to stake his claim for a starting berth.