Nottingham Forest have been through a lot in the space of three years and now the football club can be proud to boast an England international in the form of Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Reds playmaker has been called up by interim boss Lee Carsley for games in the Nations League against Finland, Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month.
Forest star Gibbs-White has represented England at every youth level; winning the World Cup at under-17 level under Steve Cooper and the European Championship for the under-21s under Carsley.
Now, Gibbs-White will make the step to play senior football for England. He’s earned the call-up just months after England lost to Spain to lose a second consecutive Euros final.
The Forest star is the first England call-up from the City Ground since Stuart Pearce in 1997 and naturally everyone associated with the football club is buzzing for the player.
Lee Carsley names Morgan Gibbs-White in the England squad
This is just rewards and it feels very much a case of Carsley getting the under-21 band back together with his first squad as interim manager.
Gareth Southgate was often predictable and safe with his squads – and his tactics – but there is no danger that Carsley has done that.
Gibbs-White has been joined by Angel Gomes, Noni Madueke and Levi Colwill from the under-21 team that won the European Championship.
Carsley has now shared why he chose to call up Gibbs-White to potentially win his first cap and he’s got an attribute that’s really important.
He told Sky Sports: “I’m sure people will be more aware of Morgan. He’s a very attacking player, full of energy, he’s very creative, very exciting. He’s got a brilliant attitude and an excellent work rate. He’s very difficult to play against and he’s been really successful with England, which is also something that I felt was really important.
“With a lot of these players we’ve called in they’re used to winning and getting to the latter stages of tournaments. Morgan was part of that World Cup team all those years ago that went and won that and he also won the Euros with the under-21s.”
Gibbs-White could star on the international stage
Given that England were relegated in the Nations League, it means that the Three Lions will face lesser opposition this season and that could help Gibbs-White.
Carsley has a lot of quality in his squad and Gibbs-White will have to work hard on getting a game next month.
However, the head coach is someone who knows what he’s all about and trusts Gibbs-White when he’s on the pitch.
As a result, it would probably represent a surprise if he weren’t to now collect a first cap and Forest fans will absolutely be rooting for Gibbs-White.
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