Milenković plays 45 minutes for Forest, set for Palace trip

Nottingham Forest won a behind closed doors friendly against Swansea City on Saturday, with Nikola Milenković completing 45 minutes on his return from a hamstring issue. He is expected to be available for the trip to Crystal Palace on 11 October.

Forest won the game 2-0, with James McAtee and Liam Delap on the scoresheet, in a low‑key outing first reported by John Percy. The closed setting allowed staff to control minutes and intensity while offering a competitive run‑out.

A 45‑minute appearance typically reflects a managed step in recovery from a soft‑tissue injury, giving medical and coaching staff a live measure of match tolerance. The report adds that, provided he suffers no adverse reaction, Milenković should be in contention for selection next week.

The fixture against Crystal Palace offers a practical reintegration point if training in the coming days confirms he has come through this workout cleanly. Featuring for only one half suggests a cautious progression that can be built on with further sessions before the league game.

The friendly also served to top up match rhythm for other members of the squad, with McAtee and Delap finding the net as Forest kept a clean sheet. No further medical detail was specified on Milenković’s condition beyond his involvement and the expectation over his availability.

Any final green light would normally follow standard fitness checks during the week, with coaching decisions shaped by how he responds to this appearance and subsequent training.