World Cup stories: Gibbs-White’s late-season surge is saving Forest and could super-charge England

There comes a point in every season when reputations are either confirmed or quietly rewritten. For Morgan Gibbs-White, the final weeks of this campaign are doing a bit of both.

Nottingham Forest have spent much of the year flirting with trouble, yet now find themselves on the brink of safety – and it is no coincidence that their most gifted attacking midfielder has rediscovered his authority at precisely the moment it matters most.

Gibbs-White’s recent form – five goals and an assist in his last three games – has been nothing short of decisive. After an inconsistent first half of the season, he has surged into life in 2026, adding goals and urgency to his already creative game.

• Read next I 41 days - The eight greatest goals scored at the World Cup

DAZN/FIFA

Forest’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Sunderland did more than boost goal difference; it underlined a shift in confidence and control, with Gibbs-White – who scored one and set up another – central to everything good about their attacking play. Suddenly, a team that once looked blunt and uncertain now carries a cutting edge.

That shift feels particularly significant given the uncertainty that surrounded him last summer. A proposed move to Tottenham Hotspur failed to materialise, leaving questions about where he stood, both mentally and within the squad. For a time, those doubts seeped into his performances. He drifted through matches rather than dictating them and Forest often looked like a side lacking a focal point in possession.

At the same time, Elliot Anderson was beginning to emerge. Younger and brimming with energy, Anderson’s influence grew as the season unfolded, offering drive and clarity in midfield while Gibbs-White searched for consistency. It briefly felt as though Forest’s future – and perhaps even England’s – might be tilting toward Anderson instead.

But football rarely follows a straight line. In recent weeks, Gibbs-White has reasserted himself, not by changing who he is as a player, but by sharpening the impact of what he already does well. Operating with greater freedom in an attack-minded set-up, he has become more direct, more decisive and far more dangerous in front of goal. The creativity remains, but it is now paired with tangible output.

Molly Darlington - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Forest’s late push has not been confined to the league, either. A Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa looms, adding a layer of intrigue to their season.

It is an unexpected stage for a team that has spent so long battling near the bottom, but one they approach with renewed belief. Form heading into knockout football can be everything, and Forest have it – largely thanks to the player pulling the strings behind their forwards.

For Gibbs-White, the timing could hardly be better. With Thomas Tuchel assessing his options ahead of the World Cup, competition for attacking midfield roles in England’s squad is fierce. Earlier in the campaign, Gibbs-White appeared to be slipping out of contention, overtaken by more consistent performers. Now, he looks like a player forcing his way back into the conversation.

Getty

That is the power of a strong finish. International football often rewards those who peak at the right moment, and Gibbs-White’s recent performances suggest a player rediscovering both confidence and influence under pressure. He is not just contributing; he is leading, shaping matches when the stakes are highest.

Forest are not safe yet, and their European adventure is far from over. But the mood has shifted and so has the narrative around their most important player. What once looked like a season drifting away from him is now one he is defining.

If he maintains this level, Nottingham Forest’s survival may end up being only part of the story. The bigger picture could involve a return to the international spotlight and a reminder that, at his best, Gibbs-White remains one of England’s most compelling creative forces.

 

Watch World Cup archive, highlights and documentaries for FREE on DAZN

DAZN is the home of FIFA+, a vast library of football on-demand content including World Cup archive, iconic documentaries, player profiles, live matches and both full match replays and highlights.

Watch it all for FREE on DAZN on smart TVs, phones, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles and web browsers.