Rather like the travelling Nottingham Forest fans this week, Sean Dyche has a dilemma.
While supporters have been deciding whether to spend a couple of days in Utrecht for this match or stay a short train ride away in Amsterdam (judging by our walk around the city of Utrecht this afternoon, I’d say most have chosen the latter), Dyche has been deciding what kind of team to put out on Thursday night.
Forest once again, after a midweek game, looked tired and underperformed in a weekend Premier League match – this time, losing 3-0 at Everton.
So Dyche knows he needs to rest his key players where he can. The question is, when?
Forest have waited 30 years for a European campaign and don’t want to take it lightly and a win over Utrecht keeps them on track for a possible top eight finish. But then, well, the Premier League is the Premier League.
With a home game against Tottenham coming up on Sunday, I’d expect Dyche to take this game against Utrecht as a chance to make a number of changes and maybe even get a proper look at some of the academy players – Zach Abbott and Jimmy Sinclair both played against Malmo, remember.
With injury problems hopefully easing over the next few weeks, Dyche might have the chance to be more calculated about rotating senior players in the new year.
But, rather like the fan I spoke to today who said he chose Utrecht over Amsterdam “to try something new”, Dyche could well adopt the same philosophy on Thursday.
Join us tonight from 18:00 to 19:00 GMT on BBC Radio Nottingham (and BBC Sounds) as we preview the game with Steve Hodge and Colin Fray.
From 16:00 GMT on Thursday, we’ll be on BBC Radio Nottingham for all the build-up and commentary.
