MORGAN’S PRIMED TO MAKE UP LOST TIME
Gibbs-white will roar for Lions says Neco
NECO WILLIAMS always believed it was a matter of when and not if Morgan Gibbs-white would get the call from England.
Now, Wales regular Williams reckons his Nottingham Forest team-mate can put form and consistency on the table to trump England selection rivals with bigger reputations.
Williams was 19 when he made his international debut four years ago, but Gibbswhite, 24, has had to be more patient.
He may have long been the hub around which Forest turn – and was again against Wolves – but it needed the wheel to turn from Gareth Southgate to caretaker Lee Carsley for his senior call-up.
“I’m surprised it’s taken this long,” said Williams of Gibbs-white’s inclusion in the squad for the Nations League openers.
“He’s been our best player since he’s joined the club.
“He is so important for us. He creates stuff, he gets goals and assists, so it was only a matter of time before he got the call.”
There will be tough competition for an England starting place, with Gibbs-white up against the likes of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and new boy Angel Gomes.
But Williams added: “At the moment it’s going on how you are doing for your club. That’s what it seems players are being picked on now – not just from their names.
“Morgan is consistent and he’s getting goals and assists.
“Yes, it will be hard to shift them, but hopefully he can put a good stamp on it when he gets there.”
Gibbs-white’s popularity within the Forest squad can be gauged by the players’ reaction to his Three Lions stamp of approval.
“We have televisions in the changing rooms at training and when we saw it everyone was just screaming and shouting,” added Williams.
“It was a good moment and we were all so happy for him. I know Morgs has been aiming for this call-up for a long time now. “We’re all buzzing for him.” Gibbs-white used to strut his stuff for Wolves, who have never quite replaced his energy, if not his creative flair.
They struggled to quell his influence at times, although this was a match which neither side seemed able to grip completely.
It veered from dim to dazzling and back again, but Wolves seemed happier with their first point of the season than Forest did with their fifth.
For former Liverpool wing-back Williams, Forest’s unbeaten start to the campaign reflects a more front-foot, assertive approach.
“We are at the stage now where we are disappointed to only get a point.
“Our aim now is to go into games hoping to get three points.” BY
Chris Wood headed Forest in front, but the SAM JOHNSTONE insists lead was given up quickly when Jean-ricner he is happy to share Wolves’ Bellegarde struck a swerving stunner. goalkeeping duties with
Wood had a late effort ruled out for offside, Jose Sa – although Arab while he might have given away a penalty cash may yet spoil that when the ball struck his arm in his own box. arrangement.
Elliot Anderson’s arrival from Newcastle Johnstone (inset) made means not everything has to revolve around his debut after his £10m Gibbs-white, a sharing of that strain Forest move from Crystal will be relieved by if England duties drain Palace and proved some of their talisman’s reserves. his worth with a NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Sels 7; Williams 7, brilliant save to Milenkovic 7, Murillo 6, Aina 6; Sangare 6 (Yates 58, 6), deny Chris Wood a Anderson 7 (Awoniyi 90); Elanga 6 (Jota 90), Gibbswhite winner. 7, Hudson-odoi 6 (Sosa 80); Wood 7. He would be content WOLVES (3-4-2-1): Johnstone 7; Semedo 6 (Doherty to fight it out with Sa for the 75), Mosquera 6, Dawson 8; Toti 7, Gomes 6 (Hwang 61, 6), No.1 spot but several Saudi Lemina 7, Bellegarde 7 (Guedes 75); Cunha 7, Ait-nouri 6 Pro League clubs are keen (Doyle 61, 6); Larsen 6 (Andre 87).