Nottingham Forest XI vs Sunderland – Predicted lineup and team news

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The Football Faithful

·24 April 2026

Nottingham Forest XI vs Sunderland – Predicted lineup and team news

Nottingham Forest travel to the Stadium of Light aiming for their first back-to-back wins since November and move further away from the relegation zone.

The Reds enter this clash in their best form of the season. They are unbeaten in five league games and recently thrashed Burnley 4–1. Vítor Pereira’s side are also preparing for a Europa League semi-final next week. That said, Forest have lost five of their last six matches against the Black Cats. They were beaten 1–0 by Sunderland at the City Ground earlier this season.

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Nottingham Forest team news

Vítor Pereira confirmed that Murillo will miss the trip to the northeast tonight. The Brazilian defender suffered a muscle injury and remains a doubt for next week. Jair Cunha is the most likely candidate to step into the backline. Meanwhile, Callum Hudson-Odoi is out for the season after undergoing surgery. He is expected to return to full training during the pre-season period.

Morgan Gibbs-White is the primary threat for the visitors tonight. He has scored six goals in his last six Premier League appearances. He averages a goal every 101 minutes under Pereira’s tactical guidance. This is the best ratio for any Forest player under a single manager.

Igor Jesus could return to the starting eleven after scoring against Burnley. He provides a physical presence to unsettle the Sunderland backline. Ibrahim Sangaré and Elliot Anderson should maintain their partnership in midfield. Forest have become more dangerous by waiting for moments to exploit gaps. They aim to continue this upward trajectory and pull further away from danger. A win would take them eight points clear of the relegation zone.