Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira faced the media ahead of Sunday's crucial Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 12:30 BST), and he had plenty to say about his squad's fitness, a star player's future, and a potential England call-up.
First up, the big injury news: midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is back in training after suffering a facial injury last week. Pereira confirmed, "He started today to work with the team. Let's see, with a mask. It's strange when we use the mask, but I spoke with him, and he said, 'I'm okay, no problem.' We'll see if he's ready for the next game." That's a huge boost for Forest fans, as Gibbs-White has been a key playmaker this season.
However, not all news is positive. Pereira added, "Murillo out, Aina out, but in this moment I think Dan Ndoye. Morgan and Ibrahim Sangare will be on the training tomorrow." With key defenders sidelined, Forest will need to dig deep against a resurgent United side.
On the contract front, there's buzz about Neco Williams potentially signing a new deal. Pereira was full of praise for the Welsh full-back: "He's another player that deserves everything. He's consistent. I know what I can expect from him every game. We've played very consistently since working together—he's quality defending and attacking, a very good player." Williams has been a steady presence on the flank, and locking him down long-term would be a smart move for the club.
Pereira also tipped Gibbs-White for Premier glory, saying, "He deserved everything from the top player. As I said before, the top player deserves everything life or football gives him because he's a fighter with a lot of talent, a leader, and he deserves, in my opinion, everything." When asked about a potential England World Cup squad spot, the boss added, "He wants to prove himself every time, to get every chance to prove he has the quality and talent to be there." With the Three Lions always on the lookout for creative midfielders, Gibbs-White's form could make him a serious contender.
As Forest gear up for a tough test at Old Trafford, all eyes will be on how this injury-hit squad performs—and whether Gibbs-White can make his mark with that protective mask.