Nuno Espirito Santo has helped several Nottingham Forest players hit top form this season and recently dismissed claims that one of his key men is underrated.

Forest fans will get to see their team in action again under the Sky cameras on Friday night, as they face Leicester City and former boss Steve Cooper in a highly anticipated clash.

Interestingly, Steve Cooper has already highlighted the threat posed by Chris Wood ahead of the clash, having witnessed his quality first-hand during his time at the City Ground.

Nuno Espirito Santo was equally complimentary in his pre-match press conference, calling Cooper “amazing” for his tenure as Forest manager. However, it wasn’t just Cooper who received praise. One of Nuno’s own players became the focus of attention when a reporter questioned his value to the squad.

Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledges Chris Wood’s crucial role ahead of the Leicester City match, noting that he has become Nottingham Forest’s go-to player this season.

While Wood had a challenging outing against Fulham at the City Ground, it was largely due to the lack of service for both him and Taiwo Awoniyi. Nonetheless, Nuno is clearly impressed with what he has seen from his striker this season.

In his pre-Leicester press conference, Nuno Espirito Santo was asked if Chris Wood is perhaps a bit underrated. He responded emphatically, saying, “Not by us. Not by me at all. I have a big admiration for Chris since we arrived; he’s been amazing. I always say the same, it’s not only on the pitch, and we are delighted. What we want is for him to continue.”

Ryan Yates is often considered underrated at Nottingham Forest. The midfielder’s relentless work both on and off the ball frequently goes unnoticed, as he is often the one doing the dirty work by breaking up play and transitioning defense into attack.

David Prutton has recognized Yates’s efforts, noting that it’s clear he truly cares about playing for Forest. Don Hutchinson even dubbed him ‘cockroach’—a nickname that might seem odd at first but makes sense when you realize how much of a nuisance he is for the opposition.