Morgan Gibbs-White believes he did “more than enough” to be in the England squad for the World Cup – but conceded he has got on the “wrong side” of Thomas Tuchel’s opinion.
Gibbs-White, 26, has been in sensational form for Nottingham Forest this season and ended the campaign with a stunning free-kick during Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
It took him to 18 goals and seven assists in 53 appearances across all competitions – the highest combined total out of any English Premier League attacking midfielder in 2025/26.
Despite this, Gibbs-White hasn’t convinced Tuchel to pick him in his 26-man squad for the World Cup in North America. Indeed, the ex-Sheffield United and Wolves man was snubbed for selection, with Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham the three No.10s to be picked instead.
But Gibbs-White feels he merits a place in the England camp for the World Cup. “I know myself I have done more than enough to be in the squad,” he said, following Forest’s draw against Bournemouth.
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“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.”
After Gibbs-White scored a stunning goal against Bournemouth, whipping a fine 25-yard strike into the bottom corner, it prompted Forest fans to sing, ‘Thomas Tuchel is a w*****’.
Speaking on Friday after picking his squad for the tournament next month, Tuchel said Gibbs-White’s omission was down to the amount of competition in his position, with Cole Palmer and Phil Foden also left out.
View 2 ImagesMorgan Gibbs-White has been left out of the England squad(Image: Getty)
“There were difficult phone calls,” Tuchel said, when asked about Gibbs-White, Palmer and Foden. “For some of them, it’s just a positional thing to have a balanced squad so we don’t bring five No.10s. Even if it was painful, I think it was the right call for England.”
While Gibbs-White isn’t integral to the England squad for this summer’s World Cup, he is critical to Forest, and manager Vitor Pereira believes keeping him will be key ahead of next season. “I know we want to keep the same players, to bring two or three players to help us balance the squad. In the end, we’ll see,” Pereira said.
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Gibbs-White’s form for Forest in the latter end of the season has helped keep the Reds in the Premier League. He has nine goals and two assists in his last 10 top-flight appearances and has showed Tuchel what he can produce, with Pereira’s side finishing the campaign five points above the relegation zone.
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