Amadou Onana

[Garyth]

Has he returned to form as his place has now come under pressure with SJM, Yuri and Ross now coming into match-fitness?

Think his place was safe regardless. Those three + Luiz are competing for 2-3 other positions. None of them are comfortable in the 6 role. Forest away will be a bigger test for Onana, their midfield with likes of Anderson is far stronger than West Ham or Lille.

Yeah, its Kamara > Onana > Bogarde for the '6'-ish side of the pivot. Maybe then McGinn if they are all injured.

On the other side it's Tielemans > Luiz > Barkley > McGinn, depending on opposition and game specific tactics. (Although, interesting to see Barkley get the nod of late)

McGinn is so valuable because his primary position is in any one three behind Watkins, but is so versatile he covers everyone else.

[Dave]

Has he returned to form as his place has now come under pressure with SJM, Yuri and Ross now coming into match-fitness?

Think his place was safe regardless. Those three + Luiz are competing for 2-3 other positions. None of them are comfortable in the 6 role. Forest away will be a bigger test for Onana, their midfield with likes of Anderson is far stronger than West Ham or Lille.

Yeah, its Kamara > Onana > Bogarde for the '6'-ish side of the pivot. Maybe then McGinn if they are all injured.

On the other side it's Tielemans > Luiz > Barkley > McGinn, depending on opposition and game specific tactics. (Although, interesting to see Barkley get the nod of late)

Think that's just sensible managing of minutes. Can't use him in the European games, and this is the most football DL will have played in one go since he left us so giving him a bit of rest is probably wise. Although I guess he does now have nearly three weeks off.

Wouldn't surprise me to see a couple of games in the run-in where Onana gets a rest and we do that midfield box of Tielemans / McGinn / DL / Barkley with Rogers and Ollie ahead of them.

[Garyth]

Wouldn't surprise me to see a couple of games in the run-in where Onana gets a rest and we do that midfield box of Tielemans / McGinn / DL / Barkley with Rogers and Ollie ahead of them.

Plausible - though I'd hope it was against a team expected to sit deep in defence, rather than one that contests the midfield.

I kind of suspect it's more likely that Bogarde be the one to fill his position.