Doulgas Luiz set to be out until international break with injury

Nottingham Forest midfielder Douglas Luiz (27) is expected to be sidelined until after October’s international break as the club manages a hamstring issue, Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.

The Brazilian, who joined Forest on loan from Juventus in the summer, was forced off at half-time during Wednesday’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Real Betis after registering an assist. While the 27-year-old’s setback is not thought to be serious, scans are being awaited to assess the extent of the damage, Sky Sports reports.

Speaking ahead of Forest’s Championship clash with Sunderland, Postecoglou admitted Luiz would not be risked. “He won’t be available this weekend. We’ve got to be careful with him, especially after his problems last year at Juventus,” he said. “It’s nothing significant, but with the international window coming up, it might be the right time to build him up properly.”

Luiz has already shown flashes of quality for Forest, but Postecoglou stressed the importance of allowing the midfielder to reach peak condition before reintegration. “He’s such a good player. You could see it the other night, but he’s not yet at full fitness. We’ll use this period to get him where he needs to be,” he added. The Forest manager also confirmed defender Murillo remains unavailable after suffering a thigh injury against Arsenal. Although the Brazilian has returned to light training, Postecoglou cautioned that “the healing process has been slower than expected” and insisted patience is required before he rejoins the first-team setup.

GFN | Finn Entwistle