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7 cup heroes start: The Nottingham Forest XI that can defeat Crystal Palace

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Nottingham Forest face Crystal Palace this afternoon looking to go into the World Cup on the back of a huge win.

The Reds will be playing an Eagles team in decent form and they will need to be at their best.

Forest knocked Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and after making nine changes, Steve Cooper has a headache.

Ahead of today’s clash, we’ve looked at the team that can help the Reds claim a big win this afternoon.

The Nottingham Forest XI that can defeat Crystal Palace

The Forest rearguard

Dean Henderson should return in goal but elsewhere things might stay very similar.

Scott McKenna may come in to bring some balance to the back four but Renan Lodi, Willy Boly and Serge Aurier should all start.

Forest XI Palace
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Joe Worrall would find himself unlucky to miss out, however.

He was brilliant against Tottenham but Cooper will likely go with McKenna provided he’s fit.

In the Forest engine room

This area of the pitch provides Cooper with a real conundrum.

Orel Mangala is suspended for this one so that decision has been made really straight-forward.

Lewis O’Brien simply has to play after his performance against Tottenham.

Elsewhere, we believe Ryan Yates should start and Remo Freuler should return to the team.

Leading the Forest line

Another area that is providing some serious food for thought is upfront.

It would be harsh on Jesse Lingard for him to be dropped but ultimately Morgan Gibbs-White was brilliant in the number 10 last Saturday.

Forest XI Palace
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In terms of the striker force, Cooper would be very justified to give Taiwo Awoniyi and Sam Surridge another game.

Both players were brilliant in midweek and they could cause Palace some real problems.

Here is how today’s Forest team should look: