Nottinghamshire

Image source, Getty Images

Former Nottingham Forest defender James Perch says England boss Thomas Tuchel "can't ignore Morgan Gibbs-White too much longer" after the midfielder's "incredible" season for the club.

In all competitions, Gibbs-White has scored 15 goals and registered five assists - the fifth best of any player in the Premier League this campaign.

However, Gibbs-White was not included in Tuchel's recent 35-man squad for the friendlies with Uruguay and Japan and is down the pecking order for England's number 10s.

"I was one of those people that said he's a good player, but questioned whether he scores enough goals because he gets into good positions but doesn't always make the most of it," Perch told BBC Radio Nottingham. "But you can't argue with his numbers this season as 15 goals is brilliant.

"He also gets back and helps defensively so I can't heap enough praise on him. He has been unbelievable.

"He turns up in the big games and he can win games on his own. For an England call-up you have to ask whether he is doing more than Cole Palmer? And the answer is, yes. Is he doing more than Phil Foden? Yes.

"I don't know why he's not getting a call-up because he can't be doing any more than what he is doing.

"He's playing in a European semi-final and just won that game [against Burnley] with a hat-trick on his won. He is doing a lot more than some other number 10s.

"I don't know if it is a bit late for him to get a call-up now but in my eyes he deserves it.

"All he can do is perform for his club - and that is what he is doing - and Tuchel can't ignore him for too much longer."

Listen to Perch's thoughts on BBC Sounds

Explore more Nottingham Forest content on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Ian: From unforgivably bad to ecstasy, you couldn't get two contrasting halves of football. Brian Clough said goals change games, and boy was he right in this game. Even the second half was nervy at first but our goal unlocked a freedom that was lacking. Credit to our manager, it sounds like he told them to drop their nerves and express themselves. Still lots of hard work ahead but keep calm and carry on!

Stephen: How can you go from utter garbage first half to absolute brilliance in the second half? Morgan Gibbs-White has carried us many times this season but this must go down as one of the best hat-tricks ever. Let's just hope that we don't have another first half like that and we might just avoid relegation.

James: Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. We've had no luck most of the year and now it's all coming our way. Another couple of wins out of the last five are needed though as Spurs looked a lot better.

Burnley fans

Dusty: Was at the game. Very poor other than passing back to the keeper which Burnley excel at. Just not good enough. Too many players are well below Premier League standard. Ekdal, Tchaouna, Florentino, Ugochukwu, Anthony in particular. Forest could score at will in the second half. Parker's tactics shown to be useless yet again. Where are the home grown players coming through the development team? No sign of any.

Paul: Sad and damning proof of how poor we have been all season. I fear for our prospects in the Championship next season under the same management.

Alan: When teams are in hopeless situations they can either fight or capitulate. Burnley have chosen the capitulation option. Impossible to see how the players that remain after the cull at the end of the season can be lifted and readied for the dog fight that is the Championship. League One here we come.

Steve: Complete capitulation in the second half, not one player has the passion or desire to win. Burnley are very short of a leader, both on and off the field.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter at the City Ground

It could be one of the biggest "what if" transfers.

Instead of scoring the goals to lift Nottingham Forest closer to safety, Morgan Gibbs-White could have been Tottenham's saviour.

Spurs thought they had their man last July but the transfer saga - during which Forest threatened legal action - could still have ramifications 10 months later.

The England international's first hat-trick in Sunday's 4-1 win over Burnley lifted Forest five points above the Premier League relegation zone with five games left and pushed Tottenham closer to the drop.

Gibbs-White also scored Forest's winner in Thursday's 1-0 Europa League quarter-final second-leg victory over Porto, which sent them through 2-1 on aggregate and set up a semi-final with Aston Villa.

It has left him on 15 goals in all competitions for Forest this season and the 26-year-old is proving the difference as Vitor Pereira's side look for survival ahead of Spurs.

Forest had problems at home in the league, having won only two of their previous 11 top-flight outings at the City Ground.

In that time they had scored nine goals, but six of them came in wins against Leeds and Tottenham.

They were without a win at home in the league since 14 December, when they beat Spurs 3-0, and needed someone to step up. Cue Gibbs-White.

"When I was watching the first half we were talking together. Morgan was not in his best condition," said Pereira.

"In the first half the team didn't find him in the right timings, spaces and didn't find him in the way we wanted.

"I asked them [at half-time], 'let's go to prove our quality and spirit'.

"He went in his pocket. He has a lot of talent in his pocket, a lot of team spirit and character, and he leads the team. I have leaders inside the team. They proved together we never give up."

Gibbs-White's treble - the first time he has scored more than once in a game since 2022 - made him the joint highest English scorer in the Premier League this season, on 12 with Brighton's Danny Welbeck.

It was also a reminder to England manager Thomas Tuchel before the World Cup after Gibbs-White was left out of the 35-man squad last month for games with Japan and Uruguay.

Pereira said: "He deserves it because he has the quality of a leader.

"When things are not happening in the way we want, when the team is struggling, I know a lot of players in this moment they prefer to hide themselves.

"This is not for Morgan. He wants the ball, wants the responsibility and wants to score goals and assist.

"He is a fantastic player for us, not only technically and tactically but about character."

Read more on Gibbs-White's fine form

Image source, Getty Images

Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid praised "catalyst" Morgan Gibbs-White for a "fantastic" second-half performance against Burnley in which he scored a hat-trick in 15 minutes.

Reid, who was at the City Ground for the Europa League win on Thursday and again on Sunday against the Clarets, told the Football Daily podcast: "Morgan Gibbs-White got hold of the game second-half and put in a fantastic performance and Forest ended up winning convincingly.

"It was a special individual performance, but it is no surprise because he has been a catalyst for them for so long when they have needed that someone to drag them up and through the doldrums. It has been him more often than not.

"Three brilliantly taken goals, but I don't feel that they are safe yet. There's still work to do."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal

• Aston Villa 4-3 Sunderland

• Nottingham Forest 4-1 Burnley

• Everton 1-2 Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Vitor Pereira reacted to the win over Burnley in conversation with BBC Radio Nottingham.

"I try during the game, I try to find the solutions if we are not finding the spaces and doing the movements," he said.

"The opponent are comfortable in the game and we concede a goal from nothing.

"That's why I write a lot of things. I prefer to be calm, try to find the spaces, and understand what I can do in half-time to help them. I'm not a manager to shout at my players in the middle of the game. I understood they were trying.

"I try to do my changes. Not only the substitutions but about reorganising our dynamic and how to find the spaces and the goals. Demanding the character and the team spirit, and to fight for our life. This is the moment and we just need to score four goals. They scored four! It means in the end I give them one more day off because they deserve it."

Listen to the chat in full below and hear more reaction on the Nottingham Forest feed on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Periera, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "The three points is the most important thing. Keeping in mind, we played a tough game three days ago. Our first half we found it difficult to find the spaces and movements. At half-time we had a talk about changing the dynamics and attacking different spaces. Demanding the spirit and character and fight. In the end, a very good second half. I am happy with it."

On captain Morgan Gibbs-White: "He is leading by example. I know a lot of [captains] that speak and speak, but it proves nothing. I didn't feel he was at his best level in the first half but he did fantastic in the second half.

"Even when we are in bad moments, we feel the energy from the supporters, and we create spirit in the team to face problems. The second half was a big example that we are alive and ready to fight until the last game to reach our target."

On Murillo, who came off injured: "I don't know. He needs to do a scan. Talking with him, I don't think it's serious. We'll see."

Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "A massive three points. We knew how important this game was coming into it. The first half was a bit nervous, tense. The words from the gaffer was to give it everything out there. Whatever will be, will be. They boys came out fighting, took our chances when we needed to and controlled the game.

"The first [chance] I was a bit erratic, I knew for the second one to take a touch and be a bit more composed. When the third went in, it was a delight. My first career hat-trick. I am over the moon, but more importantly, we got the win, and we have that gap."

On Elliot Anderson: "He is massive for us, and his decision to come back in is down to him - and it came out today as the right decision. It is a horrible moment right now, that's it."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have won after trailing at half time at home in the Premier League for the first time since 19th January 1997 against Tottenham Hotspur (23 games without a win after trailing at half time).

• Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, his most ever in a league campaign (excluding play-offs) – since the start of March, no Premier League player has scored more times than the Englishman across all competitions (7).

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Going into their Europa League quarter-final with Porto, Nottingham Forest were entering their season-defining period.

Fast forward 10 days and they are in the last four of a European competition for the first time in 42 years having also claimed four crucial points in their battle against relegation.

Morgan Gibbs-White's hat-trick was the catalyst against Burnley and Forest's star man produced when his team desperately needed it.

This week - after a draw with Aston Villa and the quarter-final second-leg victory over Porto on Thursday - should give Forest the final platform for survival.

This win leaves Vitor Pereira's side closing in on safety and still with a chance of European glory.

A first home league win since the 3-0 victory over Tottenham in December should also ease the anxiety at the City Ground.

The nerves were evident after Zian Flemming's first-half opener at the end of a wretched first half which lacked intensity and imagination.

With the loss of Murillo - who limped on to the pitch to celebrate at the final whistle - Forest's afternoon could have fallen apart. But impressive resilience and recovery rescued them to earn a vital win at the bottom.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Forest's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Elliot Anderson returns to the Nottingham Forest starting line up after the sad passing of his mother Helen.

Matz Sels and Nikola Milenkovic also return following the 1-0 Europa League win over Porto on Thursday, which booked a semi-final with Aston Villa.

Dilane Bakwa also makes his first Premier League start for Forest since January.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Bakwa, Wood.

Subs: Ortega, Morato, Awoniyi, Dominguez, Igor Jesus, Yates, Cunha, McAtee, Netz.

Kyle Walker starts for Burnley as Scott Parker makes one change for the trip to the City Ground.

Bashir Humphreys drops to the bench while James Ward-Prowse returns to Forest, having played 10 games on loan last season.

Defeat would leave Burnley 12 points from safety with just five games left.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Ward-Prowse, Florentino, Edwards, Ugochukwu, Anthony, Flemming.

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Humphreys, Tchaouna, Broja, Laurent, Tresor.

This is Nottingham Forest's biggest game of the season.

It's a great chance for them to get three points, but gosh this is going to be nervy - it is going to be a very tense afternoon but they just have to find a way to win, it doesn't matter how.

Burnley are done now, they are going down - but that might not help Forest because it could see Scott Parker's side play with more freedom.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Sunderland

• Everton v Liverpool

• Nottingham Forest v Burnley

• Man City v Arsenal (16:30 BST)

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction to the early games here and the late match here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds