Chris Wood missed a gilt-edged chance when clean through against Man City in midweek, though that was a rare moment for the dependably accurate veteran who has been hitting the target with an impressive 60.9% of his shots in the Premier League this season.

Wood, who has been averaging 1.94 shots and 1.18 shots on target per 90 minutes in the top tier since August, was a real handful in Forest’s loss to City, big miss aside, and mustered more attempts (3) than Erling Haaland (2) at the Etihad Stadium. The 32-year-old can ruffle feathers in United’s defence on Saturday, so back the New Zealander to have at least 1 shot on target again.

By his own admission, Marcus Rashford has been “energised” by the appointment of Ruben Amorim and the 27-year-old enjoyed his most productive outing of the campaign so far against Everton last weekend when he hit 4 shots, 2 attempts on target and 2 goals in United’s 4-0 win over the Toffees.

Rashford has now lodged at least 1 shot on target in 4 of his last 5 appearances in all competitions and fresh from an hour on the bench against Arsenal in midweek, the attacker could be a menace against Forest. Look for Rashford to test Matz Sels with a shot on target at Old Trafford.

Morgan Gibbs-White is a key creative force for Forest, though the club’s captain isn’t afraid to roll his sleeves up when required and the 24-year-old rarely lets a Premier League fixture pass him by without committing a foul – in fact, the midfield has fouled at least once in 8 of his 10 Premier League appearances this term.

Gibbs-White also ranks first at Forest for average fouls committed per 90 minutes (2.00) and he could showcase his aggressive streak in Manchester on Saturday. The England international represents top value in the 1+ fouls market here.

Academy graduate Anthony Elanga played over 50 times for Manchester United before his 2023 switch to Nottingham Forest and the 22-year-old will be determined to impress his former employers on his return to Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

Elanga has been fouled 1.48 times per 90 minutes this season and his explosive pace can be a particularly potent weapon in matches where Forest play on the counter-attack. The Swedish star was fouled twice by City and his powerful bursts from deep could have an unsettling effect on a United defence that’s still adjusting to a new system. Back Elanga to draw at least 1 foul from his former team-mates.

Casemiro has a reputation for launching into mistimed tackles, however, the Brazilian has actually drawn more fouls (11) than he has committed (9) so far this season and he represents excellent value at close to even money to be fouled at least once again on Saturday.

The 32-year-old has been drawing 1.33 fouls per 90 minutes in the league this term, though the ground duel specialist was stopped in his tracks 3 times in his last start against Everton and his collection of bruises could grow when he faces a combative Forest midfield this weekend.

Midfield skirmishes at Old Trafford could have an extra edge on Saturday with so many South Americans sharing those congested areas and Argentinean Nicolas Dominguez is tipped to be collared for at least 2 fouls when he faces Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte and Brazil’s Casemiro.

Dominguez has been committing 1.82 fouls per 90 minutes this season, though he topped that average in Forest’s last 2 Premier League away fixtures. The 26-year-old fouled 2 and 3 times respectively in those tough tests at Man City and Arsenal, and Dominguez could be just as bristly in another high-profile fixture this weekend.

Bruno Fernandes’ productivity has been on the up since the end of October and the in-form 30-year-old has managed to claim 9 goals goal involvements (4G, 5A) in his last 9 run-outs for club and country.

Fernandes set up 2 of his team’s 4 goals in United’s last Premier League home fixture against Everton last Sunday to take his tally up to 5 assists in the division for the campaign.

The midfielder, who has been averaging 4.29 shot-creating actions per 90 this season, also has a decent record against Forest (4 goal contributions in 7 appearances) and he is a snip at 2.10 to provide another match-changing moment against them here.

Lisandro Martinez has served his one-game suspension and should be restored to United’s three-man defensive line on Saturday, and the centre-half could be worth backing to commit at least 1 foul against Forest on his return to the starting XI.

Martinez has been averaging a relatively modest 1.02 fouls per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, though he hasn’t looked completely comfortable defending in the channels since United’s switch to a back three and the Forest frontline is pacey enough to expose the Argentinean’s lack of speed. Back Martinez to mistime at least 1 tackle against the Tricky Trees.