Morgan Gibbs-White will miss Nottingham Forest's Carabao Cup match against Leeds, with the club choosing caution after he twisted his ankle and overstretched his MCL. The good news for Forest is that there is no structural damage, and there is still hope he can be ready for Liverpool on Saturday.
That makes this a sensible decision rather than a dramatic setback, but it is still a significant one. Forest are already trying to recover from an opening-day defeat, and they are doing it while managing players who have had only a few weeks of pre-season after late returns.
Glasner said: "It's still [Ryan] Yates and [Nicolo] Savona who are out" before confirming that Gibbs-White will not feature tomorrow. He added that the midfielder "got the ball and twisted his ankle, so the MCL was a little bit overstretched, and he has some pain in his knee."
That explanation matters because it shows Forest are not dealing with something more serious, but also that the medical staff see no value in pushing him back too soon. With another game against Liverpool coming two days later, the priority is to avoid turning a short-term problem into a longer absence.
Why Forest are taking the cautious route
Gibbs-White is central to how Forest want to play. He has produced 25 goal involvements across 53 appearances, with 18 goals and 7 assists, and he is the kind of player who can change the tone of a match quickly.
Glasner made it clear that Forest are looking at the bigger picture. "There is no structural damage, but there's no point in risking him," he said. "We're working really hard to get him fit for the Liverpool game on Saturday, but he can't make tomorrow's game."
That is the key line for Forest supporters. Leeds will come too soon, but the signs are positive enough that Saturday remains realistic if the knee settles down.
Fresh legs, same intent
Forest's approach to the competition has not changed even with the injury list. Glasner said: "A lot of players look good and fresh and tomorrow is a cup competition. We want to have the same approach no matter the competition and try to win a trophy."
He also pointed to the wider fitness picture, saying: "We've had players come back late and have only had a few weeks for pre-season, so there's no point risking them for a second competitive game in quick succession."
That puts the selection call into perspective. Forest are not backing away from the Carabao Cup, but they are balancing ambition with common sense, and that is especially important so early in the season.
There is also a historical edge to the tie. Forest beat Leeds 3-1 in the Full Members Cup in October 1991, reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals in 2022-2023, and were dumped out by Swansea City in the third round last season. They have also won six of their last eight campaigns in the competition, with one of their last nine Carabao Cup matches ending in defeat.
For now, the message is clear: Forest will go to Leeds without their captain, but they are still hoping to have him back for Liverpool. If that happens, the Leeds game will be remembered less for the absence itself and more for the decision to protect a player they may need even more at the weekend. For a wider look at the off-field tension around the player, see Evangelos Marinakis takes Crystal Palace to the High Court after Morgan Gibbs-White banner crosses the line.
