Gibbs-White on England call up and hoping to earn debut cap

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Gibbs-White on England call up and hoping to earn debut cap  embargoed section 1 of 2  4/09/2024   St George's Park, Burton, UK

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00:00Okay, everyone, good afternoon again and welcome to St. George's Park for this media conference

00:05with Morgan Gibbs-White.

00:06A reminder that the initial part is embargoed until 6 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, and then

00:11we'll have a short, section-y end embargoed until 10.30 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday.

00:15Again, if we keep it to three questions per person in the first round, if we do have more

00:20time, we'll come back to you.

00:21Rob, do you want to get started?

00:22Huge congratulations.

00:25I mean, look, you're the first Nottingham Forest player to be called up since 1997.

00:30Some chap called Stuart Pearce.

00:31I'm sure you've heard all of this before, but by the sounds of things, there was quite

00:34a reaction in that Forest changing room by your teammates when they heard the news.

00:38Tell us about that.

00:39Yeah, so obviously I got the call in the morning and obviously it was a dream come true.

00:45I've wished for this moment since I was a little boy.

00:48And obviously I got into training and all the boys didn't, because we were in in the

00:52afternoon.

00:53I didn't tell any of the boys.

00:55I wasn't really like, didn't want to know all the pressure.

00:58And then the squad came out just before we went out to train, and all the boys found

01:02out then, and they all went crazy, dancing.

01:05Everyone was happy for me.

01:06So no, the support's been unbelievable.

01:09And you had to keep that secret.

01:10You knew and the players didn't.

01:12Yeah, it wasn't really a secret, but I just wasn't one to bring the attention onto myself.

01:18So obviously when the boys found out, like I said, they went crazy.

01:21They were all happy for me.

01:22So no, it's been incredible support, and you know, I still can't believe it.

01:28It still doesn't feel real.

01:29But no, I'm buzzing to be here.

01:31I just can't wait for the games now.

01:33I think a lot of people have kind of been along the journey with you, because they've

01:36known how much you've wanted this, and you've had to wait for it.

01:38Did you ever doubt that it might never come?

01:41I wouldn't say doubted.

01:45You know, because before you get the actual text, you get a message that you're on the

01:50long list.

01:51And I think I've been getting that message since the Euros 21, since we've won that.

01:56So for about a year and a half, I was getting that message, and it was like waiting to get

02:01called up, waiting to get called off.

02:02And obviously, there's incredible amounts of talent in England, especially with the

02:08players.

02:09So I knew it was just about me being patient, taking my time, concentrating on club level,

02:14and doing the best that I can for Nottingham Forest.

02:16And then fortunately enough, it's come now.

02:19And obviously, I'm so delighted and thankful to the manager for giving me the call-up.

02:23And yeah, just like I said, I can't wait to get going now.

02:26You'll know this is a heck of an achievement in its own right, but the next target is to

02:30try and make your England debut.

02:32And you'll be aware that there's no Jude Bellingham.

02:34Cole Palmer and Phil Foden have both withdrawn from the squad.

02:38They all play in your position.

02:40That won't be something you haven't noticed, I guess.

02:42What do you make of it?

02:43What are you thinking?

02:44They're three incredible names that you've just called out.

02:48It's unfortunate they can't be here.

02:51But no, like I said, I've waited for this opportunity for so long, and I'm going to

02:57try and take it with both hands and hopefully secure my spot here.

03:01But obviously, the main goal is to get promotion from the Nations League.

03:06I believe that's the main goal for the squad right now.

03:09But yeah, like you said, they're probably one of the three best players in the world

03:14right now.

03:15So to be behind them is obviously a good and a bad thing.

03:20But no, I've just got to concentrate on doing what I do best, and just hopefully the chance

03:25comes.

03:26The thing is they're not here.

03:27Does that give you an extra bit of belief and hope?

03:29Yeah, because obviously maybe I might get my chance.

03:34And I'm looking forward to the time when I do.

03:37But no, obviously they're not here for whatever reason.

03:41So yeah, like I said, we're just looking forward to the games now.

03:44Top man.

03:46Hi Morgan.

03:47You know Lee Carsley well from your time in the 21s.

03:51It could be your first game for the England senior team, but it's also his lead in the

03:55senior side.

03:56Is it special to do it at the same time?

03:58Yeah, definitely.

03:59As you said, I've worked with Cars before.

04:02I know how he works.

04:04He's a great manager tactically.

04:06Man management is great.

04:08And I was buzzing when I found out that he got the job, because I felt like he really

04:13deserved it.

04:14And I feel like it suits him perfectly.

04:17So hopefully the games go well for him.

04:20And you never know what the future holds.

04:22Last summer, you were part of the side that won the Under-21 European Championship.

04:26You were a big part of it.

04:28Played some unbelievable football again under Lee Carsley.

04:31Has he spoken to you about how he wants this midfield to play?

04:34Our first session was really only today.

04:37A proper session.

04:39So we haven't got down to the proper tactical side of things.

04:43He spoke briefly on what he wants us to do.

04:46But there's similar parts of what we did in the summer last year that he wants us to do

04:51now.

04:52Like I said, it's a long journey to the World Cup.

04:55But our main focus is on the Nations League and getting promoted from that.

04:58You've had a successful England underage career.

05:01You've won the World Cup.

05:02You've won the Euros.

05:03Do you feel experienced on the international stage, even though you haven't made your senior

05:07debut?

05:09Yeah, I'd say so.

05:10In terms of having a winning mentality and winning trophies at youth level, yeah, I'd

05:15say I'm experienced in that sense.

05:17And that's what I could try and bring to this group, is that winning feeling, that winning

05:21mentality.

05:23So, yeah, like I said, we're looking forward to the games and hopefully we can win all

05:28of them.

05:31Hi, Morgan.

05:32What did Lee say to you and the guys when you all first joined up here?

05:37Just to be yourself, express yourself.

05:40That's the reason why we got the call-up.

05:43You know, especially as well as because he knows us from previous times of working with

05:48him.

05:50I feel like he believes in us, trusts in us.

05:53But no, his words were just express yourself and just be yourself.

05:57How have you found it being around the England senior set-up?

06:02It's been incredible.

06:03All the players have been welcoming.

06:06The senior players, they've all been welcoming.

06:11And no, training's been great.

06:13Just to play with some of the names that are here, it's been unbelievable.

06:16And just learning from them day-to-day is going to be a really good experience for me.

06:20Have you been made to feel welcomed by the senior players?

06:23Yeah, definitely.

06:24As soon as I walked through the door, everyone was happy, smiling and really excited to be

06:30here.

06:31And like I said, training's been unbelievable.

06:33The standard of training is top, top, top tier.

06:37Morgan, congratulations.

06:38I just wonder what the little boy at Stafford Juniors would have thought of this moment?

06:44Yeah, I didn't quite believe I'd make it to this moment, probably at that age.

06:50At that age, you just want to play football, enjoy it.

06:53And then obviously when it starts getting serious, you start getting dreams and hopes.

06:57And the call-up was one of the main dreams and goals for me growing up.

07:03And now I've got it.

07:04I'm over the moon.

07:05Still to this day, lost for words.

07:07A lot of those close to you with tears in their eyes, I expect.

07:10Yeah, especially my missus and parents.

07:13They were both in tears, because they know how long I've wanted this.

07:21So yeah, it was a special moment for all my family.

07:24They're over the moon and the support from them has been second to none.

07:28And I just wonder, finally, if you think this could be the start of a new era for Nottingham

07:33Forest, with players joining the club and thinking that they can use it to get on to

07:39the international stage too?

07:41Yeah, definitely.

07:43Obviously, I've done it now and I believe that there's a few others that can definitely

07:48push on and try and get the call-up.

07:51I believe we've got a really good group right now.

07:54The belief in the squad is really high.

07:57We've started the season really good.

07:59We haven't lost a game yet, so we're going with that mentality for the rest of the season,

08:03that we believe in ourselves and we believe we should be right up there.

08:06Brilliant, thank you.

08:07Are there any further questions in this section?

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