Credit: Imago, BBC Match of the Day

Evan Lloyd

Mon 25 May 2026 10:08, UK

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Alan Shearer was full of praise for Morgan Gibbs-White after he scored his 15th Premier League goal on the final day as Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Bournemouth.

The midfielder has enjoyed a brilliant season, netting 18 goals across all competitions and providing seven assists, too.

The 26-year-old has been particularly excellent in 2026, consistently showing up for Nottingham Forest as they fought off the threat of relegation.

Gibbs-White opened the scoring on Sunday, finding the net with a driven shot into the bottom corner after Omari Hutchinson had laid off a free-kick, before Marcus Tavernier levelled in the second half.

The goal was a point made to England manager Thomas Tuchel, who ignored the midfielder’s Nottingham Forest form when he left him out of the World Cup squad last week.

Alan Shearer lauds Morgan Gibbs-White

Football Insider exclusively revealed in April that Gibbs-White is increasingly likely to stay at Nottingham Forest this summer.

The midfielder came extremely close to joining Tottenham last summer, but ultimately signed a new contract at the City Ground.

And his value has only continued to soar, with a season of 25 goals and assists sure to be attracting attention throughout the league.

A strong World Cup campaign would have seen that interest intensify further, and there may be quiet relief at Nottingham Forest that Gibbs-White was left out.

The 26-year-old is rightly disappointed, however, and seemed to send a message to Tuchel on Sunday.

The goal, a well-struck drive into the bottom corner, was the highlight of a superb performance, but it was the celebration that stood out.

Gibbs-White pointed to his chest before holding out his fingers to make the number 10, perhaps a reference to Tuchel’s explanation for leaving him out of the squad – he did not want to bring five number 10s to play out of position.

“He’s been sensational,” said Shearer when asked by BBC Match of the Day about the midfielder on Sunday.

“I guess he’s disappointed with not being in the World Cup and his celebration today was making that point, and I think he can count himself really unlucky not to be in the England squad.”

Gibbs-White opens up on England snub

Gibbs-White is well within his rights to internally question the inclusion of the likes of Noni Madueke and Jordan Henderson in the England squad, on a statistical basis.

But Tuchel’s selection appears to be less about on-pitch form, and more about the balance of his squad.

“It is what it is. I know myself I have done more than enough to be in the squad,” Gibbs-White told Sky Sports.

“I just got on the wrong side of someone’s opinion. I have been on the wrong side of people’s opinions throughout my career so I’m only going to bounce back.”