Nuno Espirito Santo has told Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and Callum Hudson-Odoi that their England chance should come if they continue to show their quality with Nottingham Forest.
There was some surprise when new England head coach Thomas Tuchel left Gibbs-White in particular out of his first squad on Friday, while there had been a feeling that the positive form of Anderson and Hudson-Odoi might also earn them an international opportunity.
All three played a part in Forest’s 4-2 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday, with the travelling fans making their feelings known at Portman Road as they noisily backed Gibbs-White with chants of “England’s number 10” and offered less friendly chants about Tuchel.
“What they have to do is what they did today — work and play good. For sure, the next chance will be in front of them, if they do,” said Nuno in his post-match press conference.
“What they have to do is stay focused and stay humble. For sure, Thomas Tuchel will look at our players and take them because they are talented players and they can help England.
“I didn’t have to speak to them about it. I think they are experienced enough to realise that in this world of football there are decisions to be made and respect to those who make the decisions.”
Forest took a firmer grip on third place in the Premier League table on Saturday after goals from Nikola Milenkovic, Anthony Elanga (two) and Jota Silva earned a comfortable victory at Portman Road.
Milenkovic’s goal came after Nico Dominguez had headed a Hudson-Odoi cross back into a dangerous area. Anderson’s pass sent Elanga into space down the right ahead of his first goal, while Gibbs-White laid on Jota’s goal in unselfish fashion late on.
It was a result that left Forest six points clear of fifth-placed Manchester City, after they were held to a 2-2 draw by another team with Champions League aspirations, in Brighton and Hove Albion.
“You know what I think about the table. Now our focus is to wish our players going to (play for) their national teams all the best. We are very proud they play for their countries,” said Nuno.
“Overall, it was a good performance. We have to focus on ourselves and work as hard as we can because there’s a lot of football still to be played.”
Forest return to action after March’s international break with an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Brighton on March 29.
(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
