Oliver Glasner: Morgan Gibbs-White fit for Ipswich, but Nottingham Forest can't depend on midfielder
Oliver Glasner has confirmed Morgan Gibbs-White is fit to face Ipswich Town on Friday night, but the Nottingham Forest boss insists his talisman cannot carry the side on his own at Portman Road.
Forest head into the game with only one win and five points from their opening seven Premier League matches. Victory at Ipswich would lift them out of the bottom three.
Glasner has confirmed that the influential Gibbs-White is fit to feature, having been a doubt for the clash. He missed the 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal at the weekend.
Defender Nikola Milenkovic, an unused substitute in the defeat by Arsenal as he recovered from bone bruising, is also fully fit and available to start.
Glasner was quick to stress the importance of the Gibbs-White, while pointing to how his side performed without him against Arsenal.
"He's ready, he trained for the entire week, so no issues. When Morgan is available, it's important. We know that Morgan is somebody who can create chances, who can score goals and that's always very positive. "But on the other side, we could see that we also, without Morgan, we had a very competitive team against the champions, and this gives us confidence. He's an important part. But he alone can't win the game, so we need a top team performance.
Full-back Nicolo Savona (knee) and forward Igor Jesus (calf) are the only players still missing. Glasner said the latter "could return for the Manchester City game" on November 7 if everything goes perfectly, though he questioned whether it would make sense to take a risk with the international break following.
We're in the middle of a thunderstorm
Glasner has endured a tough start to life at Forest, following his arrival in the summer. Asked whether he had spoken to the club's hierarchy about the poor start, Glasner said there was no need for discussions.
He urged patience, as Forest look to navigate a 'thunderstorm' of recent results.
"We have just five points. Nobody is pleased with this. Nobody is satisfied. No player, no staff member, no one in the leadership. But on the other side, everybody sees the effort. Everybody sees the performances. So that is why it is quiet. "We want to change things, if you always do the same, you always get the same. I think we're in the middle of a thunderstorm sometimes, but when you get through it, the sun will be shining."
