Alan Shearer has expressed his belief that Morgan Gibbs-White was “very, very unlucky” to miss out on a place in England’s squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, despite the Nottingham Forest midfielder’s standout performances in the Premier League this season.
Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, highlighted Gibbs-White’s impressive contributions to Forest’s campaign, where he has been a key player, registering five goals and seven assists in the league. His performances have been a major factor in Forest’s push for Champions League qualification, as they currently sit in third place in the Premier League.
Despite this, Gibbs-White was not included in the squad announced by new England manager Thomas Tuchel on Friday. The squad saw some notable inclusions, with Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson earning recalls after more than a year away from the national team. There were also some surprise selections, such as Myles Lewis-Skelly, who received his first call-up, and Newcastle’s Dan Burn, who at 32 earned his first-ever senior England selection.
However, Gibbs-White’s omission was met with disappointment from Shearer, who pointed out that, given his form this season, he deserved a place in the squad. Shearer made a direct comparison between the midfielder’s performances and some of the players who had made the cut, suggesting that Gibbs-White’s form should have earned him a spot over some of the other selections.
Shearer acknowledged the strength of England’s squad but insisted that Gibbs-White had been unfortunate not to be included. “If he keeps on playing the way he is, and there’s no doubt that he can do, he’ll be in the England squad in the future. I’ve got no doubt about it,” Shearer added. This shows Shearer’s confidence that Gibbs-White’s continued excellent performances at club level will eventually earn him an England call-up.
Gibbs-White had previously broken into the England setup under interim manager Lee Carsley, earning his senior debut in August 2024. He was subsequently included in two consecutive squads under Carsley, but Tuchel’s appointment as manager has halted his international progress for now. The 24-year-old will now have to wait for a potential recall in the summer.
The squad Tuchel announced also featured a blend of experienced players and younger talents. In defense, established figures such as Kyle Walker and Reece James were included, alongside younger talents like Levi Colwill and Marc Guehi. In midfield, players like Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, and Jordan Henderson were called up, with Curtis Jones and Cole Palmer also making the list. Morgan Rogers, who made his debut in November, retained his place as well.
The attacking department is led by England captain Harry Kane, supported by Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Solanke, and Marcus Rashford. One notable exclusion was Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who had an excellent Euro 2024 campaign but missed out on this occasion.
There were also several injury-related absences, with Bukayo Saka, Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo, Lewis Hall, and Noni Madueke all missing from the squad due to fitness concerns. Ben White, who had recovered from knee surgery, also wasn’t selected, despite discussions with Tuchel.
For Gibbs-White, the focus now shifts to maintaining his form at the club level. With Shearer’s endorsement, there’s a clear expectation that if his performances remain at the current high level, it may not be long before he earns another chance to represent England. Gibbs-White will have to keep pushing to ensure that his strong club performances translate into a place in future England squads, with many confident that his time will come.
