Morgan Gibbs-White has strongly asserted himself in the ongoing discussion about the identity of the primary playmaker for the England national football team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, after leading Nottingham Forest away from the danger zones in the English Premier League.

The player scored 13 goals in 35 matches this season, including 7 goals since the beginning of March, making him one of the most outstanding English players in the second half of the season.

Despite being excluded from coach Thomas Tuchel's latest squad of 35 players for the friendly matches against Japan and Uruguay, Gibbs-White's performance has brought his name back into the spotlight. In the recent match against Chelsea, he came on as a substitute and provided an assist just minutes later, while Cole Palmer struggled in a tough match where he missed a penalty. The comparison between the two has intensified the discussion about Gibbs-White's entitlement to the number 10 role in the national team.

The competition for this position seems fierce, with names like Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and Phil Foden. However, Gibbs-White's numbers this year surpass most of his competitors, particularly in terms of goal contributions from open play, in addition to his physical consistency and the significant number of minutes he has played with his team compared to the other names.

Gibbs-White hopes to continue his impressive form in the final weeks of the season, especially with Nottingham Forest's ongoing European campaign and their approach to the Europa League final.

However, the player suffered a head injury during the match against Chelsea after a collision with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, raising doubts about his readiness for the upcoming game against Aston Villa. Nevertheless, many in England believe that his current form makes it difficult for Tuchel to overlook him before announcing the final World Cup squad.