Morgan Gibbs-White Fitness Latest as Nottingham Forest Prepare for Arsenal Test

Nottingham Forest have a familiar problem before a big game, key players are hurt and Oliver Glasner is waiting on bodies rather than talking tactics. The biggest concern is Morgan Gibbs-White, who remains doubtful ahead of Arsenal’s visit to the City Ground.

The midfielder picked up a muscle injury in the 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend. Since then, he has not completed a full week of training, which tells you plenty. Forest will give him every chance, but late fitness tests usually mean exactly what they sound like, uncertainty until the last moment.

Gibbs-White Faces Late Call

Glasner was clear on the situation. “Morgan Gibbs-White is doubtful. He couldn’t train the entire week with us, but it looks like he can join tomorrow’s session, and he had an individual session today with our rehab coaches,” Glasner revealed in Friday’s press conference.

He added, “He suffered a minor muscle injury at Palace, so we have to see how he reacts today and how he deals with tomorrow’s session. Then I will take the final decision.” Forest will take that as cautious optimism, nothing more.

Glasner also made the wider point about workload management, saying, “In a long season, this is a situation that happens, especially when players are going away and playing for their countries for more than two weeks.

“It’s not to blame anybody; it’s just that every manager has a different style of training, which the body has to get used to, with a different load.

“It doesn’t seem too serious, so there is a chance he will be available.”

Nottingham Forest Injury Update

There are other concerns too. Nikola Milenkovic is back in training after more than a month out with a hamstring problem, though that does not mean he is ready to start. Match sharpness matters. Availability matters more.

“Savona will still miss the game, and Igor as well,” Glasner added.

On Milenkovic, he said, “Milenkovic trained for the first time today, so we will see how he reacts. He could be in the matchday squad, but let’s see because he has been out for several weeks.”

That leaves Forest short on certainty before facing Arsenal. Gibbs-White could still make it. Right now, that is the best Forest can say.