Phil Jagielka has been explaining what Nuno Espirito Santo has done to get the best out of Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest. The number 10 was inspired last night as the Reds defeated Fulham 3-1.
This was a City Ground classic. Forest were three goals to the good for the first time in any fixture since they won promotion to the Premier League back in 2022.
Callum Hudson-Odoi got the ball rolling before Chris Wood smashed home from long-range shortly after. Gibbs-White made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time to compound the misery for Fulham.
Tosin Adarabioyo set the nerves jangling by pulling one back just after half-time. However, Forest weren’t to be denied and in fairness, more goals should have been scored at the Trent End.
Jagielka was covering the game for BBC Sport last night. After the final whistle had blown, he spoke about something he’d noticed that Espirito Santo has done to get the best out of Gibbs-White.
Jagielka on what Nuno has done to help Morgan Gibbs-White
There was some anxiety among the Forest fan base when it was announced that the Reds were appointing Espirito Santo. Not least because the head coach loaned Gibbs-White out when he was a youngster at Wolves.
However, Gibbs-White does have a good relationship with Espirito Santo and tweeted him when he was actually sacked by Wolves with a message of good will.
At Forest, the pair have been good for each other. Gibbs-White is playing some brilliant football and Espirito Santo appears to be getting the best out of him.
Jagielka spoke about Forest star Gibbs-White last night and he thinks Espirito Santo has done something that has helped bring the very best out of the 24-year-old.
He toldBBC Sport: “The new approach brought in by Nuno Espirito Santo to Forest, they play with two wide men who make the pitch really big, and a target man up top – that gives Morgan Gibbs-White the space in the pockets to pick up the ball and create.
“He is a very inventive player and they are the areas you want him to be picking up the ball in and expressing himself.
“To be involved in all three goals in the game shows just how fantastic a game he had.
“Forest will be hoping that they can go on and build on the win now and record a few more.”
Gibbs-White can get even better at Forest
West Ham and Tottenham are both keen on signing Forest star Gibbs-White this summer. If the Reds remain in the Premier League, surely there won’t be many clubs that can afford the Forest star.
Forest sold Brennan Johnson for £50 million in the summer. On current form, it’s hard to imagine the Reds not commanding at least the same – if not considerably more.
Gibbs-White does have his imperfections. Once again last night his corners were rather erratic and it’s fair to say that he could chip in with more goals and assists.
Those are minor things that will come with more games he plays though. In terms of goals and assists, he got one of each last night and frankly, Fulham didn’t know what to do with him.
Forest are extremely fortunate to have Gibbs-White within their ranks. At 24-years-old, he’s an extremely talented player and hopefully he can enjoy a bright future at the City Ground.
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