Nottingham Forest have received an encouraging update on their defensive injury situation ahead of their Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, with Nikola Milenkovic nearing a return to full fitness while Nicolo Savona continues his carefully managed recovery.
Forest are preparing for their return to Premier League action after the international break, with Oliver Glasner’s side set to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on October 11.
By the time Forest travel to London, it will have been more than three weeks since their disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Coventry City. The extended gap between fixtures has given several players valuable time to recover, and Milenkovic appears to be one of those who could benefit most.
The Serbia international missed Forest’s recent matches against Aston Villa and Coventry City because of a hamstring problem. His absence left Glasner with fewer options in central defence, but the situation now appears considerably more positive.
Milenkovic has returned to training and is closing in on a comeback. Glasner recently indicated that the experienced defender should be available for the Palace fixture, providing Forest with a timely boost ahead of an important Premier League encounter.
“Yes, he should be available for Palace,” Glasner told the Nottingham Post when asked about Milenkovic’s recovery.
That update will come as welcome news for Forest, particularly given the physical demands of the opening stages of the season. Milenkovic has become an important figure in the defensive structure since arriving at the City Ground, and his availability gives Glasner another experienced option as he prepares his team for the trip to Selhurst Park.
The club will nevertheless be keen to avoid rushing the defender back. Hamstring injuries can require careful management, and Forest will want Milenkovic to return only when he is ready to handle the demands of competitive action.
Savona’s situation is slightly different, with the Italian full-back continuing a much longer rehabilitation process.
Savona has been sidelined since January after undergoing knee surgery, meaning his return has been one of the longer-term injury situations within the Forest squad. His recovery has been progressing, but the club are taking a cautious approach rather than putting unnecessary pressure on the player to meet a specific deadline.
Glasner previously suggested that Savona could potentially return to team training during or shortly after the international break. However, he was not involved in Thursday’s training session, meaning there is still some uncertainty over exactly when he will make the next step in his rehabilitation.
The Forest head coach has emphasized that the club are carefully monitoring Savona because of previous reactions from his knee during the recovery process.
Rather than accelerating the process, Forest are gradually increasing the amount of individual work the defender is completing and assessing how his knee responds. That approach is designed to ensure that Savona can build up his workload without suffering another setback.
There is no pressure on the player to return by a particular date, and the latest indications are that his rehabilitation is continuing in the right direction.
For Forest, that cautious approach could prove important. Savona has been out for a significant period, and returning to first-team football after major knee surgery involves more than simply reaching a point where a player can train again. Physical conditioning, match sharpness and confidence in the affected knee all need to be rebuilt.
The international break therefore provides Forest with a useful period to continue working with their injured players away from the pressure of weekly Premier League fixtures.
Glasner will hope that period results in Milenkovic being fully available for the Palace match while Savona continues to move closer to a return to group training.
Forest have endured an uneven start to the 2026-27 campaign, and strengthening their defensive options could be important as they look to build momentum. The defeat to Coventry was particularly frustrating, and the club will be looking for a stronger response when they return to league action.
The Palace trip will also carry an interesting subplot for Glasner, who will return to Selhurst Park to face his former club. The Austrian manager will be focused on preparing Forest for what promises to be another demanding away fixture, but having key defensive players back in contention would give him greater flexibility.
For now, Milenkovic appears to be the closest to a first-team return, with Glasner’s comments providing the clearest indication yet that the centre-back should be available against Palace.
Savona, meanwhile, remains on a longer road back. His absence has lasted many months, and Forest are understandably unwilling to take unnecessary risks with his rehabilitation.
The next week should provide a clearer picture of both players. If Milenkovic continues to respond positively to training, Forest could welcome an experienced defender back into the squad for the Palace clash. Savona’s progress will continue to be monitored closely as the club determines when he is ready to take the next step.
With the international break nearing its conclusion, Forest’s injury picture is therefore beginning to look more encouraging. Milenkovic is edging toward a return, while Savona’s rehabilitation remains on track despite the club maintaining a deliberately cautious approach.
