Notts County vs Nottingham Forest U21 - EFL Trophy

Tactical intrigue takes centre stage on October 13, 2026 as Notts County and Nottingham Forest U21 prepare to square off at the home ground, with both managers known for their strategic nuance in the EFL Trophy. The 25-year-old suffered the injury after an inadvertent clash with his own team-mate as he and Mathias Olivera both challenged for possession late in the first half.

Both camps will view the EFL Trophy meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. Manchester City are nearing an agreement with Marseille for an experienced goalkeeper as they continue reshaping the position behind Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Notts County may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Nottingham Forest U21 have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. Tuesday's print edition of ABC, as relayed by Sport Witness, have claimed that Betis turned down a €50m approach from a wealthy non-Premier League club for Antony.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. Spurs may have leaked Arsenal links to defender to ease sale to Atletico Madrid.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 1-1. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the EFL Trophy standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. England captain Harry Kane is likely to sign a new deal to extend his stay at Bayern Munich despite interest from Barcelona.