Nottingham Forest start their 2016/2017 Championship campaign on Saturday afternoon against Championship new boys Burton Albion at The City Ground.
Forest start the new campaign with fresh hopes under new head coach Philippe Montanier with the club looking to improve on last season’s less than impressive 16th place finish while visitors Burton Albion’s aims will be both to survive against all odds in English football’s second tier while enjoying every minute of their fairytale rise up the footballing pyramid.
Nottingham Forest go into their first match of the new season with a number of injury problems. Attacking pair Matty Fryatt (Achilles) and Jamie Paterson (strain) will not be fit enough to feature while fitness concerns hang above several players with Michael Mancienne, Tyler Walker, Chris Cohen and Dexter Blackstock all set to be assessed before the clash with The Brewers.
New signings Damien Perquis, Armand Traore and Pajtim Kasami will also face fitness tests before being handed their debuts for the club.
Burton Albion make the short trip to The City Ground sweating over the fitness of experienced midfielder Lee Williamson who is suffering with concussion but otherwise manager Nigel Clough has a fully fit squad of players to choose from.
In August 2008, Burton Albion were facing an opening day fixture at Salisbury City in non league football and just eight years on The Brewers are set to play in front of a large crowd at the home of the former European champions.
