Former England defender names player who deserves spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad

Thomas Tuchel will take charge of his first England games this Spring as the Three Lions begin the World Cup qualifying campaign. 

The German, who was appointed as Gareth Southgate's successor last year, has begun assessing his options ahead of naming his first squad by being spotted at numerous Premier League games since the start of 2025. 

According to former defender Stephen Warnock, one player who should be in the new manager's thinking is Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. 

The midfielder made his international debut under interim boss Lee Carsley in September, and Warnock believes he should be part of Tuchel's plans going forward. 

“I hope Morgan Gibbs-White can get into Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad,” he told BetBrain. 

“I think he’s exceptional – his work rate off the ball is phenomenal and that’s imperative to being a top player.

“There’s no ego to him, he’s willing to do the dirty, ugly work whilst having that class about him. His form this season, some of his passing and dribbling as well as his tactical understanding of the system Nottingham Forest is outstanding. I hope he gets called up and I think he will.”

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Warnock has also singled out Gibbs-White's boss at Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo, for the job he's done at the club this season. The Midlanders are currently third in the league table, and look set for a surprise European berth come the end of the season - a feat the ex-Liverpool full-back thinks should earn Nuno the Manager of the Season accolade. 

“Nuno Espirito Santo would be the Manager of the Season if you ended the season now, without a doubt,” Warnock added. 

“How far he has taken this team is so impressive, the way they have gone about their business – they look like a top four side.

“Arne Slot obviously deserves a mention if he manages to win the league in his first season at Liverpool, but if Forest can keep going with this level and finish in the top four or even higher, Nuno will be fully deserving of that award.”

Forest are back in Premier League action on Sunday when they entertain bottom-placed Southampton at The City Ground. 

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