Nottingham Forest fans fume over star man’s ‘disgraceful’ omission
Thomas Tuchel named his first England squad as manager for the World Cup qualifiers, but his selections have already sparked debate.
England will face Albania and Latvia in the coming weeks in the World Cup qualifiers, but Tuchel’s decisions after naming his first squad have already received scrutiny.
The squad saw some familiar faces, with Tuchel calling up Marcus Rashford, who has rediscovered his best form at Aston Villa since his move in the January window.
However, his decision to select Jordan Henderson over Morgan Gibbs-White has raised eyebrows. Gibbs-White has been instrumental for Nottingham Forest‘s push for European football, yet the German manager has deemed his performances not enough to warrant a call-up.
Morgan Gibbs-White vital for Nottingham Forest amid Liverpool transfer links
The midfielder has been in outstanding form this season as Forest continue their remarkable campaign, currently sitting third in the Premier League.
Though his performances has caught the eye of top clubs as Football Insider revealed that Liverpool are closely monitoring Gibbs-White ahead of a potential summer move, with the Reds keen to bolster their midfield options.
He has played a crucial role in Forest’s success, making 26 appearances, scoring five goals, and providing six assists in 2,055 minutes. His importance to the team is evident, with 24 of those appearances coming in the league, as he is often rested for domestic cup fixtures.
Liverpool fans have urged the club to sign Gibbs-White, praising his performances, but despite the speculation, Gibbs-White remains fully focused on helping Forest secure European football.
| Season statistics in 2024/25 | Morgan Gibbs-White |
| Appearances | 26 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 6 |
Thomas Tuchel faces early criticism after Gibbs-White omission
Gibbs-White was previously called up to the England squad under interim boss Lee Carsley, making his omission from Tuchel’s first squad all the more surprising.
Eddie Howe continues to be linked with the England job, as Tuchel is only on a short-term deal running until the end of the 2026 World Cup, but the German’s early decisions are already under scrutiny.
Many Nottingham Forest fans have expressed their frustration, questioning why their star midfielder was overlooked. One supporter described it as a “disgrace of a squad” while another argued, “His quality is 10 times better than Henderson’s.”