Morgan Gibbs-White Called Up to England Squad Amid Cole Palmer Injury Concerns

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has been called up to the England squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley Stadium.

This addition follows the injury of Chelsea's Cole Palmer, who was sidelined ahead of Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal due to a muscle problem sustained during training. 

Gibbs-White, 25, has been instrumental in Forest's impressive Premier League campaign, contributing five goals and seven assists this season. He made his senior England debut in September 2024 and has earned two caps to date. 

England manager Thomas Tuchel, who assumed his role on January 1, had initially omitted Gibbs-White from his squad but has now included him to bolster the midfield options. Tuchel had previously acknowledged Gibbs-White among players who were unfortunate to miss out on the initial selection. 

Palmer's injury is set to be assessed further, with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca indicating that the midfielder requires a scan to determine the extent of the muscle issue. Maresca suggested that this period could serve as a beneficial rest for Palmer, both physically and mentally. 

England's fixtures against Albania and Latvia mark the beginning of their World Cup qualifying campaign, with both matches scheduled at Wembley.