Seismic Shift: Silva’s Bombshell Pick to Fill Gibbs-White Void

Fulham manager Marco Silva has touted Elliot Anderson as a ‘very, very good player’ he is wary could step up for Nottingham Forest in Morgan Gibbs-White’s absence.

When the two sides meet in the Premier League this weekend, Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo will be forced into a rethink of his usual plan as his captain serves a suspension – set at one game currently, though with the potential to be more. The attacking midfielder was sent off via two yellow cards against Brighton last weekend.

“It is not my problem – it is more for Nuno, as you know,” said Silva with a smile when asked in his pre-match press conference. “Then I have to be honest as always, when you have Gibbs-White or you don’t have Gibbs-White, you are different. I have to be honest with you.

“For sure Nuno prefers to play with Gibbs-White and if you ask me I prefer not to play with Gibbs-White. That’s it, simple.”

Pressed further about his tactical thinking during the week, the Fulham manager hinted his thinking leaned towards summer signing Anderson in the captain’s absence.

Singing the player’s praises, he continued: “Very good side. Of course you are talking about Gibbs-White, for sure he is going to play another in that position that is really good too. Let’s see what is going to be the player there, if he is going to play Anderson – that is a very, very good player as well. Young player, but very good one.”

“Of course they have that quality out wide with [Callum] Hudson-Odoi, with [Anthony] Elanga, [Ramon] Sosa as well,” the Portuguese coach admitted, wary of his opponent’s alternative threats. “All their players – even the striker [Chris Wood] – are in a very good moment as well. They are always a threat and capable to punish any side.

“It is going to be a tough game and the way they started the season speaks for itself. It is not a surprise he [Nuno] is doing a good job since he joined the club.”