Gibbs-White returns for Forest as Glasner eyes first win in four Premier League games

Morgan Gibbs-White is in line to return for Nottingham Forest when they travel to Ipswich Town on Friday evening, manager Oliver Glasner confirmed, after the captain missed last Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal through a minor injury sustained against Crystal Palace the week prior.

Glasner was quick to stress that Gibbs-White’s absence was precautionary rather than serious, and that the England midfielder’s return is a timely boost for a side sitting in the bottom three after winning just once in their opening seven league fixtures.

“Of course, when your captain is available, it’s important. It’s someone who can create chances and score goals himself,” Glasner said ahead of the Ipswich fixture. “That’s positive, but I think you could also see that without Morgan Gibbs-White, we had a very competitive team against the champions. This gives us confidence because we lost without Morgan and with Morgan. He’s an important part, but he can’t win the game alone, so we need a top team performance, but it’s good to have him back.”

Gibbs-White had been ever-present in Forest’s first six Premier League matches of the 2026/27 season. Last campaign he started 35 league games, scoring 15 times to establish himself as one of the more dangerous attacking midfielders in the division, and played a key role as Forest reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Glasner also confirmed that central defender Nikola Milenkovic will be available at Portman Road. The Serbian international had missed three consecutive matches against Aston Villa, Coventry City and Crystal Palace before returning to the bench against Arsenal.

Not everyone is fit, however. Forward Igor Jesus and defender Nicolo Savona have both been ruled out for Friday’s game. Jesus is not expected back until the end of October, while Savona’s return is projected to be at least a month away.

Forest head into the match one point above Sunderland in the relegation zone, having lost their last three. Ipswich, meanwhile, have won three of their games since promotion — two of them at home — meaning a Forest victory at Portman Road would pull the two sides level on points.