Big decision proves Morgan Gibbs-White point as bar set for Nottingham Forest star
Nottingham Forest ace Morgan Gibbs-White has been called up to the England squad for the second time
by Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveMorgan Gibbs-White was perched on the banks of the Trent being interviewed by Dion Dublin for the BBC’s Football Focus when a group of Nottingham Forest fans gathered on Trent Bridge.
They yelled and waved in the duo’s direction. “More England caps coming,” shouted one supporter.
And they could well be right. Gibbs-White has been called up to the Three Lions senior squad for the second time. He has the chance of adding to the cap he won when he came off the bench against the Republic of Ireland during the last international break.
His selection this time around might have come as a slight surprise to some. A few big names were absent when interim boss Lee Carsley oversaw September’s matches.
But Gibbs-White had made the most of his chance when it came his way with a very promising debut at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. And there is no doubt about his importance to Forest, as last weekend’s defeat to Fulham proved.
Carsley was in the City Ground stands for that one, watching on despite Gibbs-White not being involved. The Reds’ No.10 was suspended after his red card at Brighton and Hove Albion.
It did not matter. Carsley had clearly seen enough from the 24-year-old in the previous camp, and knew about him already from their 2023 Euros success with England Under-21s.
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.
You only have to look at the names in this squad for Nations League games against Greece and Finland to see the standard required to make the cut. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer - who Forest will come up against when they go to Chelsea on Sunday (2pm kick-off) - are back in after missing last month’s matches.
The bar is set for Gibbs-White. And that in turn can only be a good thing for the Reds.
In that aforementioned interview with the BBC, Gibbs-White spoke about how much his first call-up had meant to him. “I was in bits. I was crying,” he said. “As a kid, you grow up dreaming of this moment and wanting that moment for so long. When you finally get it, you feel like you’ve achieved something in life.”
There is no chance he is going to give up his place in the squad lightly. To keep getting in, he needs to keep performing.
If some on the outside might have anticipated Gibbs-White could miss out this time, the same could not be said of his teammates. Neco Williams had backed the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man to make his mark right from the off.
"Morgan has been our best player, he's consistent and he's getting goals and assists. Yes, it will be hard to shift him (once he gets in) - hopefully he can put a good stamp on it when he gets there,” the Wales international said before the September matches.
Forest know what it is like to be without Gibbs-White. Perhaps watching Nuno Espirito Santo’s side toil without their talisman cemented Carsley’s thinking, too.