Nottingham Forest’s growing influence on the international stage was underlined on Saturday night as Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White both featured in England’s 2-0 win over Andorra.
Anderson, 22, was handed his senior debut by Thomas Tuchel and caught the eye with a commanding display at the base of midfield.
Playing as England’s No. 6 at Villa Park, the Forest star showed the composure and physicality that have made him a key figure at club level.
“He’s just a very, very good football player,” Tuchel said.
“He has the physicality, he’s very mobile at No. 6. He loves defending, he loves putting his body in duels, and he enjoys passing and breaking the lines. It was a pleasure to see.
“He showed today what we’ve seen with Nottingham and the under-21s. He played with freedom, got into the flow quickly, and has the mindset to play in tougher games. For this performance he is clearly in the mix to play in Serbia.”
Gibbs-White also played, adding attacking thrust in a more advanced role. While England laboured at times against a stubborn Andorra side, the presence of two Forest players in Tuchel’s line-up reflected how far the club has come in recent seasons.
An own goal from Christian Garcia and a Declan Rice header settled the contest, leaving England top of Group K with four wins from four.
But beyond the scoreline, the night carried extra significance for Forest, who now boast two internationals in the England squad, a far cry from just a few years ago when Premier League survival was the sole focus at the City Ground.
Tuchel acknowledged there is still work to be done but was upbeat about his side’s progress.
“It was a lot of learning for me,” the Germany coach said.
“International football is so different from club football. But I’m very positive about the group, how they trained and how they played today. I’m absolutely convinced we are on the right path.”
For Forest, the sight of Anderson and Gibbs-White in England shirts offered a reminder that the club is establishing itself not only in the Premier League but also as a source of talent for the national team.
