While England's recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan may not have carried high stakes, they provided crucial insights for manager Thomas Tuchel and fans alike. The disrupted squad highlighted the established core of the likely starting eleven, but also underscored the fierce competition for the final roster spots ahead of this summer's tournament.

One certainty appears to be Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, whose phenomenal season has made him a near-lock for a starting role. The midfielder's stats have been extraordinary, consistently topping Premier League and European charts for passing, tackles, duels, and interceptions.

For his Forest teammate Morgan Gibbs-White, the path is more challenging. After a slower start, he faces intense competition for an attacking midfield or wide role from players at traditionally bigger clubs. While breaking into the starting lineup for the opener against Croatia seems a long shot, a strong case exists for his inclusion in the 23-man squad.

This season has seen several of England's established creative talents, like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, not quite hitting their usual heights. Gibbs-White, however, has quietly compiled an impressive campaign. With 11 Premier League goal contributions, he trails only Jarrod Bowen, Morgan Rogers, and Danny Welbeck among English players. Notably, across Europe's top five leagues, he stands as the joint-top scoring English midfielder with nine goals, level with Chelsea's Cole Palmer.

With Tuchel openly stating that places are not guaranteed and seven league games remaining, the door is still ajar. For an England side that can sometimes lack inventive spark, adding a dynamic game-changer like Gibbs-White—a proven match-winner for Forest—could be a shrewd move, offering vital impact from the bench.