Morgan Gibbs-White is in “pain” because of a facial injury and might have to wear a mask to play against Aston Villa in the second leg of the Europa League semifinals, Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira said Wednesday.
Gibbs-White, who is vying to make England´s squad for the World Cup, sustained a deep cut on his forehead after colliding with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in Forest´s 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Monday.
The attacking midfielder was forced off the field, just 20 minutes after coming on as a halftime substitute. He is now a doubt for Forest´s return match at Villa in the Europa League on Thursday. Forest leads 1-0 after last week´s first leg thanks to Chris Wood´s second-half penalty.
“(He is) with pain, for sure,” Pereira said, “but we will see tomorrow if he is able (to play) or not. Big question.
“It´s a decision between the player, the medical department and myself, but we didn´t have the meeting to decide.”
Asked if Gibbs-White could play in a specially fitted face mask, Pereira said: “I think yesterday he went to have a mask made.”
The availability of Gibbs-White, one of the form players in English soccer, could be key to Forest´s chances of reaching the final in Istanbul. The winner of the Europa League secures direct qualification to the Champions League.
It would be 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 teams from central England have pedigree, if not for a generation.
Braga leads Freiburg 2-1 after the first leg of the other semifinal. Freiburg hosts the return match.
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