Morgan Gibbs-White, Nottingham Forest’s No.10, has been urged by coach Oliver Glasner to target a return to the England squad after missing the 2024 World Cup. The German manager, who will employ a back-three formation this season, believes Gibbs-White can thrive and help the club win the Premier League.

England ambitions

Gibbs-White was a surprise omission from England’s 55-man initial list for the World Cup, despite a storming finish to last season in the Premier League. Glasner says the player’s goal is to play for England at the 2028 European Championship, which will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. The coach is convinced that Gibbs-White can achieve that by improving his goal-scoring and assisting output.

Tactical fit

Under Glasner’s new back-three system, Gibbs-White’s role as a playmaker will not be hindered. The manager praised his ambition, noting that a midfielder scoring 15 Premier League goals in a season is “amazing.” He highlighted Gibbs-White’s hard work in training, his willingness to listen, and his focus on positioning and finishing. The coach also mentioned that Gibbs-White can benefit from the new system’s emphasis on creating better scoring opportunities when the team wins the ball.

Leadership role

Gibbs-White will continue to wear the armband this term, sharing the captaincy with Ryan Yates. Glasner stressed the importance of having multiple leaders in the dressing room, naming Nikola Milenkovic and Matz Sels at the back, Ibrahim Sangare and James McAtee in midfield, Xaver Schlager and Nico Dominguez as potential leaders, and Chris Wood up front. The coach believes that a core of leaders will drive the team’s success rather than individual accolades.

Glasner’s confidence in Gibbs-White’s development is clear: he wants the player to score more goals and create more assists, and he will support him through training and tactical guidance. The club’s focus remains on achieving the Premier League title while preparing Gibbs-White for a potential England call-up at the home Euros in 2028.