Morgan Gibbs-White is wearing a protective face mask as Nottingham Forest face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. The midfielder sustained a facial injury during Forest's 3-1 victory over Chelsea on 4 May, when he clashed heads with Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in an aerial duel.
Injury Details
Gibbs-White came on as a second-half substitute at Stamford Bridge but was forced off shortly after the collision. He required multiple stitches to a deep cut on his forehead. The injury has kept him out of action until this weekend's trip to Old Trafford.
Return to Training and Match Fitness
The 25-year-old has been training with a face mask since his return to full training. Forest manager Vitor Pereira confirmed his availability, telling Sky Sports: "He wants to play because he wants to play, he has ambition. He is a very important player."
Forest were concerned about Gibbs-White's fitness ahead of their Europa Conference League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa, with the team leading 1-0 from the first leg thanks to Chris Wood's penalty. However, Gibbs-White was deemed fit enough for the squad but did not feature as Forest lost 4-0 at Villa Park, ending their European hopes.
The specially designed headwear is intended to protect the stitched wound during physical contact. Gibbs-White's return to the starting lineup is a significant boost for Forest as they aim to secure a strong finish in the Premier League.
