Former Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson is expected to make his Nottingham Forest debut when Sabri Lamouchi’s men travel to face Leeds United on Saturday, according to The Stats Zone.
The ex-Gunners ace joined the Reds for a reported £2million on the eve of Deadline Day, signing a three-year contract at the City Ground after an eight-year stay at his childhood North London side.
Jenkinson played a bit-part role in what proved to be his final campaign at the Emirates Stadium, with Unai Emery only turning to the 27-year-old nine times across all competitions – his appearance against Bournemouth in February was also his first start for the club in 830 days.
The one-time England international featured just once more after his rare start, with the right-back awarded 45 minutes against Crystal Palace in April. But he is expected to kick-start his career from the off with Forest, by taking to the Elland Road field on Saturday afternoon.
Jenkinson, a one-time FA Cup winner having been in the squad three times on route to victory over Hull City in the 2014 Final, has been tipped to line-up in a four-man Reds backline, joined by Michael Dawson, Joe Worrall and Jack Robinson, with Arijanet Muric in goal.
Alfa Semedo and Ben Watson are thought to be starting the fixture immediately ahead of the defence in a 4-2-3-1, with Matty Cash, Tiago Silva and Albert Adomah occupying the attacking midfield positions.
Portugal’s £7.2million-rated Under 21 international Joao Carvalho, on the other hand, is expected to miss his side’s trip to West Yorkshire, having only returned to training from a thigh injury earlier in the week.
But Forest forward Lewis Grabban should be in line to face Leeds, as the 31-year-old chases his first goal of the season after firing a blank against West Bromwich Albion in his side’s opening day 2-1 defeat.
The Stats Zone expect Marcelo Bielsa to name an unchanged XI from the side that beat Bristol City 3-1, meanwhile.