A major injury crisis has officially hit Trentside during the international break, with Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner confirming that key midfielder Nicolás Domínguez has suffered a severe hamstring setback that will keep him sidelined until 2027.
The Reds went into the fortnight hiatus on an emotional high following their stunning 3-1 victory over Manchester City at the City Ground—a result that lifted Forest out of the Premier League relegation zone and handed them their first home win of the 2026-27 campaign.
However, the euphoria of taking down Pep Guardiola’s side has been dampened by the latest medical update coming out of the Nigel Doughty Academy.
While Glasner prepares those not on international duty for their upcoming trip to face Bournemouth on Saturday, November 21st, the Austrian manager must now navigate a brutal winter schedule without one of his primary engine-room orchestrators.
”Out Up to Eight Weeks”: Glasner Details Cruel Domínguez Setback
The Argentine midfielder had previously missed Forest’s encounters against Ipswich Town and Brentford with a minor hamstring strain, but was initially pencilled in to make his starting comeback against Manchester City.
Disaster struck during pre-match training late last week, with Domínguez suffering a severe re-injury that completely wiped out his recovery progress.
Speaking in his press conference, a visibly frustrated Glasner revealed the full extent of the damage:
“Nico Domínguez joined training but unfortunately he had a setback and a re-injury so he will be out for up to eight weeks now. That’s really tough.”
Medical staff expect Domínguez to remain on the treatment table until Saturday, January 2nd, ruling him out of crucial Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and Arsenal over the festive period.
Nicolò Savona Knee Comeback Progresses with Caution
While Domínguez faces a lengthy rehabilitation stint, there is positive news on the horizon regarding full-back Nicolò Savona, who is finally approaching the end of an agonizing ten-month injury nightmare.
The Italian defender has not featured in a competitive match since January after undergoing major knee surgery, but has recently taken significant strides in his recovery program:
- Partial Team Integration: Savona returned to full team sessions late last week, with coaching staff strictly managing his physical workload.
- Secret Friendly Test: Forest have organized a behind-closed-doors friendly match during the international break specifically to hand Savona his first competitive minutes in seven months.
- Targeted Return: While no official return date has been set for Premier League action, a successful outing in the mid-break friendly could put him in contention for a place on the bench before December.
Igor Jesus Ramping Up Sharpness at Trentside
Alongside Savona’s managed return, Brazilian striker Igor Jesus is utilizing the fortnight break to regain full match sharpness after making his official comeback from a calf injury off the bench against City.
With Ryan Yates and Xaver Schlager expected to lock down the central midfield positions in Domínguez’s absence, Forest’s depth will be severely tested as they aim to sustain their momentum and push toward mid-table security.
