NUNO’S NURSING HIS STRIKERS

NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO is treating Nottingham Forest’s forwards with kid gloves to get them firing.

The Forest boss is having to nursemaid his strikers as he looks for the combination that can lift them clear of relegation trouble.

Losing Chris Wood with a hamstring injury four weeks ago was a blow, while Taiwo Awoniyi (right) and Divock Origi have had groin and calf problems.

The duo are former Liverpool players and are under consideration to start against

Jurgen Klopp’s table toppers today. But Nuno (below) admitted he is still protecting Awoniyi.

He said: “We are managing his games and his training. We have to be careful with him, respecting his recovery and managing the intensity of his work-outs.

“He had a big injury and we are very aware of that. Our main priority is to protect him as much as we can.”

Origi arrived on loan from AC Milan but at first struggled for game time because of a muscle problem. He came off the bench against Aston Villa last week and impressed before their fightback was killed off.

He set up a goal for Morgan Gibbs-white and was also given a run-out in the FA Cup defeat by Manchester United.

“Divock is another one who has been away for a while,” added Nuno. “He is improving. He’s been in and out.

“There are some small issues which have been delaying his progress. He was amazing for us in the first half against

Manchester United – he’s a solution because he can play right, left and in the centre.

“He has good energy, passing and control. We need the best version of Divock.”

Forest have only won three matches under Nuno and with their next two away, they need a result to lift the mood.

Insisting they need to be on the front foot against Liverpool, Nuno added: “They are really dangerous, they have quality so it will require a lot of effort from us.

“But we have to keep this idea of playing and going forward.”