Nottingham Forest are staring down a major selection headache ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa on Thursday—but head coach Vitor Pereira is refusing to give up hope on his star playmaker.

Morgan Gibbs-White was forced off with a bandaged head during Monday's 3-1 win over Chelsea, requiring stitches after a nasty collision with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The attacking midfielder's availability for the trip to Villa Park now hangs in the balance, with Pereira calling it a "miracle" situation.

"He has a deep cut," Pereira admitted. "We will see. He is a fighter and we will hope for a miracle."

The stakes couldn't be higher. Forest carry a slender 1-0 lead into the second leg, and losing Gibbs-White—who has been their creative heartbeat with three goals and three assists in the European campaign—would be a massive blow to their semifinal hopes.

Pereira, however, remains cautiously optimistic. "We will see what happens. I really believe we can have him [fit for the] next game. I said to him: 'don't head the ball, just play.'"

The question now is whether Forest can afford to risk their main man in such a crucial fixture—or if they can find a way to progress without him. For a team chasing Europa League glory, every decision counts.