While Nottingham Forest’s draw at Porto was a respectable result in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, head coach Vitor Pereira drew extra satisfaction because of the familiar quandary the Portuguese had faced over his starting side.

Pereira has had to balance European football with potentially crucial fixtures in Forest’s attempt to avoid relegation, and they return to league action three points above the drop zone with a significant goal superiority following a 3-0 win at rivals Tottenham in their last top-flight outing on March 22.

“If our situation is a safe, comfortable situation in the league, [in Europe] maybe we can risk a bit more,” said Pereira, via the Nottingham Post.

“Imagine [if against Porto] we [had] played with the same team who played Tottenham… we travel and then on Sunday I put the same players in to face Aston Villa.

“I am 100 per cent sure we could face the first half, and [only] maybe we could face but the second half, if you understand [my point].”

Visitors Aston Villa are fourth and firmly on course for Champions League qualification via their league position.

Ezri Konsa headed the opener and Ollie Watkins struck twice after the break as the Villans won in Italy for the first time in their history on Thursday, winning their Europa League quarter-final first leg and ending Bologna’s club-record 11-match unbeaten run in the competition.

“They are not getting the points they deserve,” Emery said of Forest, adding that Villa’s 2-0 defeat to bottom side Wolves on February 27 often a pertinent reminder to stay focused for his players .

“We must be intelligent and we must manage different matches. It’s a really fantastic season we are having, but still with work to do.

“We are ready to fight for the Champions League positions until the last day of the season.”

Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa team news

Forest’s Chris Wood was the leading English scorer in last season’s Premier League with 20 goals and the New Zealand striker started at Porto after six months out with a knee injury.

Goalkeeper John Victor and defenders Willy Boly and Nicolo Savona remain out with knee problems. Centre-back Jair Cunha is a doubt with an ankle issue.

Midfielder Elliot Anderson is likely to return following a European suspension.

Winger Jadon Sancho (shoulder) and midfielder Boubacar Kamara (knee) are sidelined for Villa.

Influential midfielder Youri Tielemans made his first start since returning from an ankle injury against Bologna, providing assists from corners for Konsa and Watkins’ second.

Villa won four of the 11 games the Belgium international missed.