England boss Gareth Southgate says he is keeping “close” tabs on Nottingham Forest ace Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Reds attacker has impressed for Steve Cooper’s side this season since his summer move from Wolverhampton Wanderers. And there had been hopes Trentside that he might have earned a Three Lions call-up for the upcoming round of international fixtures.
Southgate watched Gibbs-White in action in January when he was at the City Ground for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United. His assistant, Steve Holland, attended a Forest training session soon afterwards.
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The 23-year-old missed out on the squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, although he will link up with the Under-21s for games against France and Croatia. But Southgate has singled out the youngster for praise and made clear he is monitoring his development.
"We like Morgan, we think he's progressing well,” he said. “He's been a player that Coops (Cooper) had at Under-17s so he has always shown great belief in him.
"He had a spell where the opportunity was more difficult. He had a loan (at Swansea City), got called back and couldn't get into Wolves' team so he missed a little period of development.
"He's having a good season at Forest. We think it's a little bit early for him with us but we're watching him closely."
Cooper speaks to Southgate regularly. Prior to Friday night’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, the Reds head coach outlined how representing the England senior side is a goal for Gibbs-White.
“I know it’s an ambition for him, having been in the system with him along the way, and if that is a motivation he knows to do that he has to keep going and improving at club level at Nottingham Forest,” he said. “That’s his controllable and focus and if he does that he’s high potential and who knows.”
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