Nottingham Forest are receiving plenty of plaudits. And deservedly so. Nuno Santo’s high-flying Reds occupy third place in the Premier League after their 3-0 hammering against West Ham - the club’s highest position since 1998.
In the build up to the match it was their Brazilian centre-back who was in the spotlight. Murillo finally received his long awaited Seleção call-up for the upcoming international break - one both Forest and Brazilian fans are extremely excited about.
Yet there’s another South American quietly going about his business on Trentside.
Nicolas Dominguez has been Forest’s most versatile midfielder ever since his arrival from Bologna last summer. Featuring in numerous positions across the park, the Argentine’s ability to be diverse and fill gaps has presented him with more opportunities than others.
Yet, on occasions, this has been a double edged sword for the former Velez player, who has not been able to shine consistently in his preferred central role. Even with his lack of minutes since signing, there’s been very little, if any, complaints coming from Dominguez’s camp; a testament to both his character and professionalism.
Despite having signed in the 2023 summer transfer window, the last three matches, (Crystal Palace, Leicester and West Ham), was the first time Dominguez has played three 90 minute matches consecutively. As a result, his performances have continued to improve - which is backed up by the data.
With Murillo heading to Venezuela next week, ironically Dominguez’s last match for his country was against Brazil in a World Cup qualifier back in November 2021. An injury prior to the 2022 World Cup prevented a return to the squad - and eventual trophy - but the 26-year-old will no doubt be on Lionel Scaloni’s radar if he continues to perform this well in the Premier League.
Nicolas Dominguez’s Stats
With 446 Premier League minutes to his name this season, Dominguez has won 51.2% of his ground duels, and more impressively, 58.3% of his aerial duels across his eight matches.
For context, Arsenal’s Declan Rice has won 45% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels in his nine Premier League matches to date.
Although occupying a no.6 role within Santo’s preferred 4-2-1-2-1 formation, Dominguez is tasked with pressing high up the pitch, not allowing opponent’s to rest when in possession.
A task not only does he excel at, but one he simply loves doing.
His anticipation, reading of the game and overall positioning is a manager’s dream - and Santo has been given no choice but to keep him in his starting XI, and perhaps he’s a more important element within the Portuguese’s secret formula than he had anticipated.
When Forest are in possession, Dominguez is extremely comfortable receiving the ball with either foot, which allows the Argentine to instantly turn and face the opponent’s goal with one touch or less, looking to play a forward pass, rather than limiting his options with his back to goal.
This side of his game goes slightly under the radar, and it’s worth pointing out that his passing accuracy in the opponent’s half (84%) is almost as high as his own (86%) due to how he receives the ball in the first place.
Not only does this allow Dominguez to create options, but his teammates can advance into more attacking spaces by having a creative no.6 confident in his own ability to link up attacking moves.
Dogged, determined yet with the vision and creative flair required to operate in a three-man midfield, Dominguez has the credentials to return to the national team, and with Scaloni operating a similar formation, the fit looks good.
Dominguez’s competition
Unfortunately for Dominguez, Argentina’s midfield is jam-packed with talent. Having won the World Cup and back-to-back Copa America titles, Scaloni isn’t short of players to choose from.
A preferred starting trio of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo de Paul has proven its worth. Yet he shouldn’t fear those who are on the current bench and ahead of him.
One could argue that Argentina lacks out-and-out defensive midfielders beyond those listed. Botafogo’s Thiago Almada, Roma’s Leandro Paredes, Como’s Nico Paz, Real Betis’ Giovani Lo Celso and Leicester’s Facundo Buonanotte all prefer to operate as no.8s.
That leaves West Ham’s Guido Rodriguez, Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios and Alan Varela as Dominguez’s main competitors. Those in attendance at the City Ground last Saturday wouldn’t have been convinced Rodriguez was the answer.
West Ham’s Argentine has played 737 minutes in the Premier League, and although operating as a more defensive unit compared to Dominguez, his stats are no better. With less accurate long balls, dribbled past more and having won less aerial duels, this isn’t form that will keep you in the Argentina squad. He's missed out on the latest call-up.
Porto’s Alan Varela has excelled since his move from Boca Juniors last season. Operating in a three-man midfield both in the Champions and Europa League in the last 18 months, the 23-year-old’s tipped by many to be the next in line for Scaloni.
However, Varela’s successful defensive actions per 90 and defensive duels won since joining the Portuguese giants are far inferior to Dominguez’s since his arrival at Forest.
That leaves Palacios. And although the 26-year-old needs time after returning from a lengthy injury in September, Xabi Alonso has preferred Robert Andrich to partner Granit Xhaka in his two-man midfield. Both have operated well together, and Palacios has had no choice but to take a back seat.
With just 170 minutes to his name across the Bundesliga and Champions League, Palacios’ place must be under pressure if Dominguez continues to play this key role for Nottingham Forest. And if they can maintain a top half place come the halfway point of the season, the Argentine has every right for his three year absence from the national team to come to an end.
There’s no doubt both Santo and Scaloni will want Dominguez to keep up his current level of form. As mentioned, this is the first time he’s started to play consistent minutes as a starter in the Premier League.
But from watching him dictate the play at the City Ground and analysing his ever-improving data, it might not be long before he’s back in action for La Albiceleste.
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