Nottingham Forest are set to begin the 2026/27 Premier League campaign this weekend with Oliver Glasner at the helm
Nottingham Forest midfielder James McAtee, head coach Oliver Glasner and summer acquisition Xaver Schlager
With pre-season now concluded, Forest must shift their focus toward matters that truly count.
The club will launch their 2026/27 top-flight season on Saturday when Leeds United come to town (3pm start). Securing a positive beginning under recently-appointed manager Oliver Glasner remains the objective as the Austrian prepares for his first competitive outing in the home technical area.
Having taken over from Vitor Pereira approximately a month ago, Glasner has enjoyed a period to familiarise himself with his squad without the burden of results. This has proved valuable for the Austrian as he seeks to propel Forest up the standings and compete for a spot in European competition.
Drawing firm conclusions from summer displays is always inadvisable, yet certain individuals have particularly maximised their opportunities during recent weeks. Here follows an examination of the standout performers from Forest’s pre-season schedule…
James McAtee
Glasner commented just a fortnight or so previously that the ex-Manchester City player was probably among those who had benefited from pre-season. Following a somewhat disappointing initial year at the club, McAtee has returned in peak condition and motivated for the fresh campaign, appearing noticeably more physical as well.
His ability has never been questioned. Almost anyone associated with Forest will attest to how the 23-year-old excelled during training last term; the difficulty lay in converting that into matchday contributions.
So far, Glasner appears capable of unlocking McAtee’s capabilities. The adaptable attacking midfielder has demonstrated positional flexibility and appears determined to draw a line under last season.
Igor Jesus
The striker began the summer schedule in excellent form. Though his scoring output may have diminished somewhat, he ought to retain considerable belief heading into the new season.
Adjusting to the subtleties and requirements of the Premier League rarely comes easily, particularly for forwards. After his move from Botafogo, Jesus also faced the additional challenge of enjoying minimal rest last summer before being asked to spearhead Forest’s attack during Chris Wood’s injury-enforced absence.
By his own reckoning, the 2025/26 experience has benefited the Brazilian greatly and he will have considerable muscle memory to draw upon once competitive action resumes. His preferred position appears to be as a number ten, though while Forest persist with their hunt for additional attacking options he may continue operating as the main striker for the time being.
Xaver Schlager
Forest’s inaugural summer arrival appears to have settled in swiftly. This was facilitated by his participation in the squad’s overseas training base in Portugal, granting him opportunity to integrate.
Furthermore, the midfielder already possessed a strong understanding of Glasner from their shared period at Wolfsburg. He comprehends the manager’s requirements and how to slot into his tactical approach.
Schlager has performed admirably thus far. He caught the eye during Sunday’s friendly against Brest as Forest concluded their summer schedule with a win, and was the most impressive player in the earlier encounter with Bayer Leverkusen. Everything has been arranged for him to make a seamless start.
Arnaud Kalimuendo
At the commencement of the summer, a return to Eintracht Frankfurt appeared highly probable for the forward. He had spent the latter portion of the previous season on loan there and the German outfit possessed a purchase option.
Despite Frankfurt apparently being eager to reacquire Kalimuendo once his loan concluded, they wished to renegotiate the transfer fee. Negotiations appear to have stalled somewhat, meaning the 24-year-old stays at the City Ground for the time being.
His situation remains unresolved but regardless of the outcome, Kalimuendo has demonstrated his quality. Whether he has given Glasner plenty to consider or simply enhanced his marketability ahead of a potential move elsewhere remains to be determined.