Nottingham Forest will be counting their lucky stars that their first fixture of the 2017/18 season comes in the Championship after so nearly dropping into League One, where opening day opponents Millwall spent the last two campaigns.

The Reds have replenished their attacking options over the summer after selling talisman Britt Assombalonga, signing three forwards and have also added right back Tendayi Darikwa to their ranks.

As Mark Warburton embarks on his first full season in charge of Forest, he has some difficult decisions in regards to the make up of his side, who under himself and his predecessor Phillipe Montanier showed mere glimpses of promise in what was another underwhelming campaign at the City Ground.

After so many false dawns, Forest will be desperate to put their stigma of being under achievers behind them, and there's no better way to do so than starting the season strongly.

Here are TWO first team players who could well miss out on that opening day clash with Millwall.

Jason Cummings

One thing, and probably the only thing Forest have been able to do relatively well in recent years is score goals and although Assombalonga's departure is undoubtedly a blow, Forest have shown during his lengthy injury layouts that they can still find the net regularly.

Jason Cummings is someone who's been brought in to continue that trend.

Still, the addition of Daryl Murphy, who has notched double figures in three of the last four seasons and played a vital cameo role in Newcastle's promotion, makes for stiff competition for the former Hibernian man.

Warburton's preferred 4-3-3 formation with a midfield three, two attacking wide men with one out and out striker, does not suit two through-the-middle centre forwards, meaning one of Murphy and Cummings will probably miss out.

Murphy's Championship pedigree may give the edge.

Jamie Ward

Brought back in from the cold by Mark Warburton after a loan spell at Burton Albion in the six months of the season, the left-winger will be hoping to be part of his manager's plans from the outset this time round.

The 31-year-old can still do a steady enough job on either side, and as an absolute last resort through the middle, but the form he showed in his Forest revival, whilst solid, isn't the type that makes you indispensable.

Zach Clough could possibly be deployed out wide and the returning Lica could enjoy a similar resurgence to that of Ward, as he returns from a loan spell at Estoril in Portugal, with Mustapha Carayol also on the books.

Ward will most likely start, but with the added competition it's no foregone conclusion.