����ý

Mid-table anonymity would be a blessing for Nottingham Forest after the borderline chaos of last season.

A change of manager, a points deduction, constant VAR rows - culminating in the controversial social media post criticising the appointment of Stuart Attwell in April - and the Mark Clattenburg experiment, kept much of the focus off the pitch.

The ultimately successful battle against relegation, which still owed much to the failings of Luton Town, gives Forest the chance to start to now consolidate themselves in the Premier League.

The club's third-straight season in the competition starts with the visit of Bournemouth, a trip to Southampton and a home game against Wolves, which those at the City Ground will surely view as a chance for a positive opening.

There will naturally be changes before then. Nuno Espirito Santo traditionally likes to work with a smaller squad and, with Forest looking to stay within profit and sustainability rules, sales are expected.

Defender Murillo has been linked with Tottenham while midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White will have interest after his impressive 2023-24.

Nuno would naturally prefer to keep his best players and those on the fringes - like the returning Joe Worrall, who was on loan at Besiktas - will be allowed to leave.