Hudson-Odoi and Onana headline absentees list ahead of Forest vs Villa Europa League semi-final

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Amadou Onana are among the absentees casting uncertainty over a high-stakes Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa Europa League semi-final showdown on Thursday.

Both sides approach the decisive encounter with selection headaches, as injuries and fitness concerns threaten to shape the outcome of a tie that carries significant historical weight.

For Forest, the absence list is particularly extensive, depriving manager Victor Pereira of key options at a crucial juncture in their European campaign.

Hudson-Odoi is ruled out, while defensive concerns deepen with Murillo sidelined by a hamstring problem. Further setbacks see John Victor, Nicolo Savona and Willy Boly unavailable due to knee injuries, while Luca Netz is ineligible for the competition and Jair Cunha is out with a shoulder issue.

The mounting absences arrive at a time when Forest have been formidable at home, scoring 13 goals in seven Europa League fixtures as they chase a place in the final.

Villa, under the guidance of Unai Emery, face fewer but still notable concerns. Boubacar Kamara remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Alysson is also unavailable. Onana’s availability remains uncertain, with the midfielder set to undergo a late fitness assessment that could prove decisive for Emery’s tactical setup.

Despite the disruptions, Villa enter the tie with attacking confidence, having netted 24 goals in 12 Europa League matches.

Emery’s pedigree in the competition adds further weight to their ambitions, as the club eyes a return to a European final for the first time since their historic triumph in 1982.

For Forest, this marks their first major European semi-final appearance in over four decades, adding emotional significance to the occasion.

The winner will advance to face either Braga or Freiburg in the final at Besiktas Park in Istanbul on May 20, with both teams seeking to overcome adversity and seize a defining moment in their continental journey.