Nottingham Forest issue official Morgan Gibbs-White update ahead of Aston Villa and Newcastle United matches.
Nottingham Forest hope to have Morgan Gibbs-White available for matches against Aston Villa and Newcastle United this week.
Forest’s talisman was forced off with a head injury just 20 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in their 3-1 victory away to Chelsea on Sunday.
Gibbs-White helped set up Taiwo Awoniyi to score Forest’s third goal before he required lengthy treatment following a nasty clash of heads with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
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The 26-year-old was replaced by Chris Wood and later shared a selfie on social media with stitches running down from his forehead to the top of his nose.
Nottingham Forest issue Morgan Gibbs-White update
In addition to his wounds, it was feared the attacking midfielder had also sustained a concussion, which would automatically rule him out of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Villa Park and Sunday’s home match against Newcastle.
FA rules state that any player who suffers a concussion must be ruled out for at least 12 days after the initial head injury should symptoms clear or seven days if exceptional criteria are met.
If a concussion has been avoided, which Forest boss Vitor Pereira believes is the case, Gibbs-White shouldn’t miss any matches.
Speaking after the Chelsea win, Pereira said: “No, no, no. I think no. I had a conversation with him and he was speaking normally; he remembers everything. The only thing is to look after his face and the pain of his injury. We will see.
“I am waiting. I am not a doctor. Gibbs-White has a deep cut but he is a fighter. He has a strong mentality. I hope our medical team can do magic to put him in the right condition.
“I have told him he does not need to head the ball, he only needs to play … We will see.”
Newcastle United prepare to face Nottingham Forest
16th-place Nottingham Forest will leapfrog 13th-place Newcastle in the Premier League table on goal difference should they win at the City Ground on Sunday.
The Magpies’ 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at St James’ Park last Saturday ended a run of five straight defeats in all competitions.
