Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce has lauded Morgan Gibbs-White after the England Under-21s won the European Championships.
Pearce was speaking to Channel Four after the 1-0 for the Young Lions on Saturday. Lee Carsley’s team defeated Spain 1-0 in dramatic circumstances.
Curtis Jones put England into the lead just before half-time. It stayed 1-0 until the closing stages when a James Trafford penalty save edged the team over the line in the 96th minute.
Gibbs-White started all but one of England’s games in the tournament. Now, 23-years-old, it will be his last tournament for the team.
Pearce doesn’t think it will be his last time wearing the Three Lions though. He’s delivered praise on the Forest man and backed him for bigger things.
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He told Channel Four: “Gibbs-White has had a brilliant tournament, he’s done himself credit. Gareth has watched all the games and what a recommendation that is for a player when the senior manager is watching.”
Forest landed the forward for a club-record £25 million last summer. He scored five goals and claimed eight assists for the Reds, who could end up paying £42.5 million for the player.
Pearce is a big admirer of his. He knows what it takes to have the respect of the Forest supporters and Gibbs-White now understands that too after a quality maiden campaign at the club.
Pearce lauded Gibbs-White after Forest star shines during the tournament
It really was a brilliant achievement by the Under-21s over in Georgia. Not only did they win the tournament but they did so without conceding a single goal and every player should be proud.
Gibbs-White will now look to take great confidence into next season. The Reds forward knows he can go even better and he showcased some serious class out in Georgia when he was called upon.
Forest will be desperately excited to see how far Gibbs-White can go. The Reds will want to make sure they keep the player for a long time and in order to do that, they will have to progress as a football club this season.