Ndoye Debut Boosts Forest in Brentford Clash

Nottingham Forest host Brentford as Dan Ndoye makes his debut and new signings feature for both sides in a transfer window showcase.

Ndoye Debut Boosts Nottingham Forest in Brentford Clash

Nottingham Forest name Dan Ndoye in the starting lineup for his debut after a 36 million pounds move from Bologna. Ndoye lines up in midfield with Sangare and Anderson, while Gibbs-White captains the side. Forest's XI reads Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Ndoye, Sangare, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi; Gibbs-White, Wood. Subs include Gunn, Morato, Awoniyi, Igor Jesus, Jota Silva, Yates, Jair, Boly, Abbott. New Brazilian arrivals Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha are on the bench, while Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee, announced by the club as new signings yesterday night, are not involved.

Yoann Wissa, linked with a move away, is not in Brentford's matchday squad. Brentford field new signings Caoimhin Keller, Michael Kayode and Antoni Milambo, while Jordan Henderson sits on the bench. This is Keith Andrews' first match as manager, 12 years after his last Premier League appearance as a player. Brentford XI: Keller; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Henry; Lewis-Potter, Jensen, Yarmoluik, Carvalho; Milambo; Thiago. Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Henderson, Schade, Onyeka, Ajer, Peart-Harris, Roerslev, Arthur.

The fixture snapshot shows how clubs blend big money moves with the need to build chemistry. Ndoye arrives as Forest seek a quick upgrade to midfield pace and drive, while Gibbs-White remains a central anchor for the squad. The mix of experienced names and new signings on the Forest bench points to a willingness to rotate and test options early in the season.

For Brentford, the emphasis is on youth plus a careful reshaping under a new manager. Keller, Kayode, and Milambo start, signaling a plan to inject energy and fresh legs into a side that has often relied on a steady core. Yet the challenge will be integration, with a scoreboard of minutes still to add up for players who may need time to adapt to the Premier League tempo. The mood on the ground reflects a broader tension in football right now: spend to win now, but invest to sustain later.

Highlights

Season momentum rests on how fast the squads gel