Morgan Gibbs-White targets England World Cup squad after Forest hat-trick
Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White has just one month to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad after a sensational surge in goalscoring form.
A stunning hat-trick against Burnley on Sunday served as a timely reminder of his top-level credentials.
The 26-year-old was omitted from the 35-man national squad for recent friendlies against Japan and Uruguay.
However, the City Ground favourite is currently one of the Premier League’s most in-form players, registering eight goals in his past 13 appearances.
Competition for the number 10 role
National team manager Tuchel must submit his final tournament selection by Saturday, 30 May.
The Three Lions will subsequently begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June.
Gibbs-White faces intense competition from established attacking midfielders such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer.
Despite this fierce rivalry, the Forest attacker is currently the second-highest English scorer in the top flight with 12 goals, trailing only Brighton’s Danny Welbeck.
Tactical adjustments and underlying numbers
Only Foden and Bellingham have created more chances per 90 minutes than the former Under-17 World Cup winner.
However, his underlying statistics reveal potential areas of concern for the England coaching staff.
The midfielder averages just 3.5 touches in the opposition penalty area per match and ranks poorly for ball recoveries.
These figures may be heavily influenced by Forest’s broader domestic struggles, with the squad having adapted to four different managers this term.
International pedigree
Gibbs-White is highly regarded within the national set-up following his triumph at the Under-21 European Championship three years ago.
He has earned six senior caps to date but played just 89 minutes in total across those appearances.
His last international outing came during a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wales last October.
With the final squad deadline rapidly approaching, a late run for a seat on the plane to North America remains a distinct possibility.
