Nottingham Forest fans fear the worst for Matz Sels as squad update emerges vs Fenerbahce
Nottingham Forest supporters are coming to terms with the idea that Matz Sels could be sidelined for the rest of the season after a new update.
Ahead of Forest’s Europa League clash with Fenerbahce on Thursday, 19 February, Stefan Ortega has been added to the squad for Vitor Pereira‘s first game in charge.
Sels has been the first-choice shot-stopper at the City Ground since his arrival in the winter of 2024, with John Victor stepping up in recent weeks, at least until his season-ending injury at Villa Park.
Ortega has now started back-to-back games against Leeds United and Wolves, keeping a clean sheet against the latter, and could now be set for his first European game in Forest colours.
Matz Sels could be missing for a long time at Nottingham Forest
One supporter believes that Sels’ injury is now “worse than suggested” after he pulled up against Crystal Palace at the beginning of the month, with very little said about the situation.
The Tricky Trees will have to travel to Turkey without their first-choice option, with a spot in the Europa League round of 16 at stake, despite a horrendous Premier League campaign back in England.
Another fan appears extremely worried about the confirmed change, saying that Sels has been “next level,” suggesting that it will be very difficult for the former Man City man to fill his boots in Europe.
- @e_nottmforest: “Sels removed from the European squad. Looks like it’s Ortega for the rest of the season.”
- @LeeHolmes1983: “That’s NOT good news. Ortega is good, but Sels has been next level.”
Should Forest fans be concerned by Sels’ injury history?
Other than missing two games for the Reds in December, thanks to a groin injury, Sels has had very few problems during his time at the City Ground.
He missed two games for Belgium last season, suffering from an adductor injury, while also being sidelined for 20 matches due to an Achilles tendon rupture during his time at Strasbourg.
However, at 33 years of age, it would not be a surprise to see the goalkeeper begin to pick up problems more frequently than earlier in his career, and that is a concern at Forest.
The youngest senior goalkeepers at Pereira’s disposal are Angus Gunn and Victor, both 30 years of age, suggesting that the Reds need to go into the transfer market for a much younger shot-stopper.