Morgan Gibbs-White ‘devastated’ by Thomas Tuchel snub at Nottingham Forest
Morgan Gibbs-White will be baffled after being ignored by England boss Thomas Tuchel as he continues to star for Nottingham Forest, Michael Dawson has said.
While he has been slightly overshadowed by Chris Wood’s 18-goal season at The City Ground, Gibbs-White’s performances have not gone under the radar, having notched five goals and six assists.
The attacking pair have combined well together, which has seen Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side rise to third in the Premier League table, making for a fairytale story for those on the banks of the River Trent.
Considering the 25-year-old’s performances so far this season, and involvement in the last England squad, the majority of fans expected Tuchel to call the midfielder up for the upcoming international window.
However, with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Reece James called up instead, Dawson believes Gibbs-White will be “devastated” by the decision to leave him at home.
Morgan Gibbs-White overlooked during incredible Nottingham Forest campaign
Speaking live via Sky Sports Soccer Special [15 March, 12:14pm], Dawson said: “Morgan Gibbs-White was a tick before the squad even came out. He was in it for me, not just a contender.
“He was in the last squad under Lee Carsley but he’s [Tuchel] has gone back to older players. He’s not gone on form, he’s gone reputation. Morgan Gibbs-White must have been devastated, thinking, ‘What do I have to do to get into Tuchel’s squad?’ – I was in disbelief.”
The Forest star featured in the last two international windows for the Three Lions, making his debut against the Republic of Ireland before grabbing an assist against Greece.
He will not be given that chance this time around, though.
| Morgan Gibbs-White’s Premier League season | Stats, as per FotMob |
| Minutes played | 1945 |
| Goals/Assists | 5/6 |
| Expected goals/Expected assists | 3.93/4.04 |
| Chances created | 38 |
| Big chances missed | 2 |
Nuno Espirito Santo leading the Reds to success at The City Ground
Football Insider verdict
Forest fans have already fumed at the Gibbs-White decision, though it will only push the star on to perform better and prove Tuchel wrong for dropping him in the first place.
Espirito Santo will be hoping for his team to qualify for Champions League football, and with their performance this season, there is every opportunity that happens.
The Reds managed to get the better of Man City and Pep Guardiola recently, helping them to fend off the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United, Brighton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth in the Premier League table.
Third to 10th in the table are separated by just nine points, and with 10 matches of the league campaign remaining, there is plenty of time for twists and turns to emerge at The City Ground.
However, if Gibbs-White can channel the anger and frustration of being left out of the latest England squad, there is no chance of Forest missing out on an incredible third-place finish.