BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) – Morgan Gibbs-White is in “soreness” with a facial injury and may have to wear a mask in the Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira said on Wednesday.
Gibbs-White is in contention to make the England squad. world cupHe suffered a deep cut to his forehead after colliding with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez inside Forest. 3-1 victory Monday at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
The attacking midfielder left the field just 20 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute. The player is currently doubted to feature in Forest’s return match at Villa in the Europa League on Thursday. Mori leads 1-0 After last week’s first leg, thanks to Chris Wood’s second-half penalty.
“(He) is definitely in pain,” Pereira said, “but we’ll find out tomorrow if he can (play). It’s a big question.”
“That is a decision to be made between the players, the medical department and myself, but there was no meeting to make that decision.”
Asked if Gibbs-White could play wearing a specially fitted face mask, Pereira said: “I think he went to get one made yesterday.”
The signing of Gibbs-White, one of the in-form players in English football, could be key to Forest’s chances of reaching the final in Istanbul. The winner of the Europa League will qualify directly to the Champions League.
This is Forest’s first European trophy since winning the European Cup, the precursor to the Champions League, in 1979 and 1980 under the great Brian Clough.
Villa won the European Cup in 1982, so the two central England teams have a pedigree, if not a generation.
After the first leg of the other semi-final, Braga lead Freiburg 2-1. The return match will be hosted by Freiburg.
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