Much was made of Thomas Tuchel’s decision to omit Morgan Gibbs-White from his England squad for this summer’s World Cup.
The Nottingham Forest player scored 18 goals and claimed seven assists during the 2025/26 campaign and is in the form of his life.
Do you think Thomas Tuchel now regrets not taking Morgan Gibbs-White to the World Cup
England looked devoid of ideas against Ghana!😡
Tuchel wasn’t sufficiently impressed, though, and decided to go into the World Cup without three potential number 10s, with Cole Palmer and Phil Foden also overlooked.
Gibbs-White showcased how he can operate on the left last season as the campaign drew to a close and Gary Neville now believes he should be playing there for England.
Gary Neville bemoans the omission of Morgan Gibbs-White
England have toiled in three of their four games at the World Cup so far, looking pragmatic, frightened and largely timid against pretty ordinary opponents.
There is a clear lack of creativity in Tuchel’s squad, and that has led to the nation bemoaning that certain players haven’t been called up for the tournament.
Neville thinks that had Gibbs-White gone, the outlook of the team might look completely different.
He said: “Do you remember what Gareth did in the last tournament? I think he actually in certain game… I think he played Jude just off the left
“Jude off the left a little bit to narrow everything, to make us a little bit more compact. Do you remember when he did that?”
“He narrowed the midfield, we have three in midfield with Anderson, Rice and Bellingham, but I wonder whether he could have just one wide player, and he could be a bit lopsided, he could have someone tucking in off the left.
“You’d have Declan and Anderson in there, then you have someone tucking in off this side (the left) so you can have O’Reilly as the left footer going around. Maybe it could be Morgan Rogers.”
“It’d be Gibbs White, probably. If you said that you had Gibbs White, you’d narrow him in, and you’d play him there.
“But my point is, if you had him, you’d tuck him in off that left alongside Declan and Anderson, and then you’d have Jude in front with Harry. But you used to be a bit lopsided, and you’d just narrow that midfield a bit.”
Forest will benefit from Gibbs-White being overlooked
With Oliver Glasner set to take over at Forest, he will hope to keep as many of his star players as possible, with Elliot Anderson now departed for Manchester City.
Gibbs-White should return for pre-season training well-rested and ready to make his mark on the Forest team once again next season.
Glasner could take Gibbs-White to another level, and it will be very interesting to see where he opts to play the Forest number 10 in his new-look team.
England face Mexico tonight in the last 16 of the World Cup, and a defeat might once again lead to the pitchforks coming out for Tuchel and questions being asked regarding his decision not to take Gibbs-White.
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