Morgan Gibbs-White is already targeting a place in England’s squad for Euro 2028 after returning to Thomas Tuchel’s side for the Nations League.
The Nottingham Forest captain was surprisingly omitted from the Three Lions’ World Cup squad despite an outstanding 2025-26 campaign, in which he recorded 25 goal involvements across all competitions.
Gibbs-White scored 18 goals and provided seven assists, leading Forest for both goals and assists. Only eight Premier League players finished last season with more goal involvements than the midfielder.
He has continued that form in 2026, scoring 13 Premier League goals a total matched only by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. No player has scored more in the competition during the calendar year.
Despite those numbers, Gibbs-White was also left out of Tuchel’s initial squad for England’s first Nations League matches. He was subsequently called up as a late replacement for the injured Cole Palmer.
The 25-year-old is still waiting for his first England start, having won all eight of his caps as a substitute. That has not prevented him from setting his sights on appearing at the next major tournament.
“Even playing in the Nations League, it’s an honour to put on the shirt,” Gibbs-White said.
“But that is the goal, you know, a home Euros. The only thing we have in our mindset is to win it.”
Competition for attacking places
Gibbs-White faces strong competition for a role behind the striker, an area in which England have considerable attacking options.
Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Eberechi Eze are among the players competing for places in those positions, while Anthony Gordon could also be considered on the left.
Asked whether it was the most crowded and competitive area of the England squad, Gibbs-White said: “Definitely, if you look at the positions that I play in.
“You’ve got Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, me, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon if you want to put it on the left, so you look at those names, and it’s stacked.
“But all I can do is just focus on myself and hopefully putting performances in at club level puts me in a good space.”
England have taken four points from their opening two matches in Nations League Group A3 and sit second in the group.
Tuchel’s team face Croatia next on Saturday.
