Gary Neville has hailed Nottingham Forest's rise as the "story of the season" in the Premier League, but doesn't expect Nuno Espirito Santo to lead his side into the Champions League.

The Premier League is highly likely to have a fifth Champions League spot this season after three Italian sides fell by the wayside during the competition's knockout play-offs this term. Forest currently sit third, but a congested top half of the table could change a lot between now and May.

Forest were beaten 4-3 by Newcastle on Sunday, allowing Eddie Howe's side to close to within three points of Nuno's men. Newcastle remain fifth, behind Manchester City on goal difference, and another defeat for Forest against Arsenal in midweek could see their rivals pounce.

Bournemouth and Chelsea are just four points behind Forest, with Aston Villa another point further back after playing one game more. And it's Villa who Neville expects to take the final Champions League spot - behind City and Newcastle - if the magic number does indeed go from four to five.

"I think Nottingham Forest have been absolutely amazing, the story of the season. But they’ll find it hard to hang on," Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast. "I hope they hang on in there but my feeling is it’s going to be tough for them to hang on in there.