Inside Morgan Gibbs-White's phone call with Thomas Tuchel that led to late England call up

Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed his reaction to receiving a late England call-up from Thomas Tuchel.

The Nottingham Forest midfielder was initially left out of the new Three Lions boss' first squad on Friday.

Gibbs-White has lifted the lid on his late England call-up
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Gibbs-White has lifted the lid on his late England call-upCredit: 90mins
Tuchel added the Forest midfielder to his Three Lions squad on Friday
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Tuchel added the Forest midfielder to his Three Lions squad on FridayCredit: Getty

However, Gibbs-White was added on Sunday ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

He could now be handed his third senior international cap at Wembley Stadium on Friday.

The 25-year-old's inclusion comes with Cole Palmer a major doubt due to injury.

Palmer missed Chelsea's loss to Arsenal on Sunday after picking up a muscle problem in training.

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Gibbs-White has now explained how he went from missing out to joining up with the squad on Monday.

He told 90mins: "I was surprised. And so I got the call on Thursday and I think this is what I really like about this manager. He was very open and honest.

"He called me and said: ‘Oh, look, I'm not choosing you purely based on [my] own decision.’ And I understood it. I had to respect it. I felt like I did enough to get the call up.

"Sunday late afternoon, he messaged me to say ‘are you free for a call?’ And I replied so fast saying ‘yes’. And obviously he said: ‘Are you still upset or do you want to come and join us in training tomorrow?’

"And I said: ‘Obviously I want to come and join the team in training tomorrow.’

"So to get the call was incredible. And I'm just so happy to be here right now."

Palmer is a doubt after missing Chelsea's loss to Arsenal
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Palmer is a doubt after missing Chelsea's loss to ArsenalCredit: AFP
Gibbs-White won two caps under Lee Carsley last year
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Gibbs-White won two caps under Lee Carsley last yearCredit: Getty

Gibbs-White has been a key part of Forest's remarkable season under Nuno Espirito Santo.

He has scored five goals and added seven assists in 25 league appearances to help his side to third in the table.

Forest are now closing in on Champions League qualification and a return to Europe for the first time since 1996.

Meanwhile, Gibbs-White is looking to add to the two caps he won under interim boss Lee Carsley during the Nations League.

After making his debut against the Republic of Ireland in September, he also came off the bench to provide an assist against Greece two months later.

The Wolves academy graduate had previously represented England from Under-16 through to Under-21 level.

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During that time he twice won international trophies with the Young Lions.

Having won the Under-17 World Cup in 2017, Gibbs-White was part of Carsley's Under-21 Euros-winning side in 2023.