How do Albion line-up at Nottingham Forest amid various injuries and one suspension

Well, we know Jakub Moder will not start.

But the Poland international has been told he can offer Albion something different as he returns to action.

Roberto de Zerbi wants to get Moder on the field at the City Ground.

Moder’s return from a serious knee injury potentially adds to the midfield options and gives something a bit different.

He was looking in good form – missing just a goal – at the time of his injury in April 2022.

De Zerbi said: “He’s different. He can be important.

“He can’t be his best because he lost a lot of time to injury, but we have to give him the chance to play to understand the style of play because he has never played under me.

“Then it’s different, he’s physically different to say Gilmour.”

Carlos Baleba is an option to start in the engine room but he has had to remain patient so far.

Having appeared to have made his big breakthrough with his performance in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool almost two months ago, we have since seen relatively little of the summer signing from Lille.

De Zerbi said: “Carlos can play. He is not ready yet, in terms of knowledge, confidence, he is very young.

“The players, to become better, they need to play.

“But we need points, so for the coaches it is very difficult to give the right chance to play for the young players, and when it’s better to keep them on the bench for them to understand the play, and the timing of the play.

“But, for sure, he will receive the chance to play in the next games.”

If Pascal Gross plays at left-back, it would seem Baleba and Billy Gilmour can operate in midfield although there is also the option of Jack Hinshelwood, who started in there at Aston Villa at the launch of a previous European week.

It appears Tariq Lamptey could play some part this afternoon, which would also free up Gross for midfield, if only for part of the match.

Disciplinary matters see Mahmoud Dahoud - absent today - return to the frame for Athens on Thursday with Jan Paul van Hecke facing a one-game ban.

Albion will hope to have Igor back from an ankle injury for the AEK clash with Adam Webster ruled out for a fortnight.

De Zerbi will also be without Kaoru Mitoma at Forest, which would appear to line up Simon Adingra for his favoured left flank.

Facundo Buonanotte, back from a trip to Japan with Argentina under-23s, could start on the right at the scene of so far his only Premier League goal.

All that being said, Ansu Fati could be given a rare Albion run on his preferred left and Adingra switch back to the right, from where he scored for Ivory Coast recently.

There is an argument that Ansu on the left, Buonanotte at No.10 and Adingra on the right is the best permutation of those three players.

Of course Adam Lallana is a possibility for No.10.

De Zerbi hinted in his press conference yesterday afternoon that Evan Ferguson would lead the attack with Joao Pedro having just returned from a trip to Brazil.

Asked about Ferguson, De Zerbi said: “He can start the game.

“I watched him in a better physical condition. I told him the same thing, this morning.

“I think he is improving his physical condition.

“About his qualities, we don’t have any doubt. He suffered with his physical condition in the last month, 40 days. Now he is better.”

Injuries are hurting, although Albion are not alone in that.

De Zerbi said: “Very difficult, but I don’t like to cry, I don’t like to speak about the injured players.

“I think we have enough for tomorrow (today) and to qualify for the next step in Europe. Then we can be focussed.

“The situation is clear for everyone. It’s tougher than I thought it would be in the summer, but we have to push, keep playing.”