Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper has heaped praise on Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of today’s game. The Reds face Aston Villa at the City Ground looking to claim a first win since September.
The 23-year-old became the club’s record signing when he joined from Wolves in the summer of 2022. He cost the club a £25 million fee upfront, with the deal potentially rising to £42.5 million.
Gibbs-White is a very influential figure on Trentside. Cooper has managed the player before when he took him on loan at Swansea City and clearly, he rates him very highly.
Cooper raves about Gibbs-White
With Aston Villa due on Trentside today, Cooper has been quizzed on Forest star Gibbs-White. The head coach can’t speak highly enough of the player and he’s going to be important again this season.
Cooper told Sky Sports: “In the end, it’s about him getting the best out of himself – that’s always the most important thing. What we have been able to give Morgan so far here is the opportunity of playing time in games, in talking about when things are going really well.
“We really believe he is a talent, but a talent with potential to fulfil and develop. He thrives on the responsibility that he carries. For a young boy, I think that’s a good trait because he’s always going to be a player of a profile that can make a difference in games.”
Gibbs-White is still the main man at Forest
When it comes to technical ability at Forest, Gibbs-White comes out on top. Some of the things that he can do with a ball are poetry in motion at times and he’s dazzled fans on occasions.
The challenge for such a talented player, however, is to strive for consistency. It’s not unfair to say that Gibbs-White perhaps hasn’t done that just yet, especially when it comes to goals and assists.
With Gibbs-White, however, it hasn’t been through a lack of effort from the young player and like Cooper says, Forest will give the player plenty of chances at the City Ground.
Many supporters believe Gibbs-White should be on the cusp of an England call-up. He might well be in the thoughts of Gareth Southgate but in the short term, he will need more goals and assists adding to his name.
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