Nottingham Forest’s decision to exclude Jonjo Shelvey from their training camp in Spain has further emphasized their desire to move the midfielder out of the club. Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White has also been left out of the group, but for different reasons. After his impressive performances with the England under-21 side this summer, Gibbs-White has been given some time off.
Gibbs-White played a crucial role in Lee Carsley’s England team that won the European Under-21 Championships, defeating Spain 1-0 in the final. He is expected to be an integral part of Steve Cooper’s Forest squad when they begin their Premier League campaign with a match against Arsenal on August 12.
However, the same cannot be said for Jonjo Shelvey, who is already being pushed towards an exit from the City Ground. Shelvey, 31, joined Forest from Newcastle in January with hopes that he would help guide the team away from relegation trouble in the top flight. Unfortunately, he had little impact on the side and was frozen out in the final weeks of the season after reacting poorly to being left out of the starting lineup against his former club, Liverpool, in April.
During his time at Forest, Shelvey made six starts and two substitute appearances. However, it seems unlikely that he will add to that tally as the club actively looks for a move for him. On the other hand, Gibbs-White had a productive season, scoring five goals in 34 starts and one substitute appearance following his club record move from Wolves, which initially cost Forest £25 million.
The Forest players are set to fly out to Spain for their training camp, where they will face Valencia on Tuesday, July 18, and Levante on Saturday, July 22. This camp will be crucial for Cooper and his coaching staff to fine-tune their tactics and strategies ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
The exclusion of Shelvey from the training camp indicates that Forest is determined to offload him. Despite only joining the club in January, Shelvey failed to make a significant impact and was unable to help the team avoid relegation. His attitude issues and lack of form have made him surplus to requirements at Forest.
In contrast, Gibbs-White’s exclusion from the camp is due to his impressive performances with the England under-21 side. The young midfielder played a pivotal role in England’s success at the European Under-21 Championships, and Forest will be relying on him to continue his good form in the Premier League.
As Forest prepares for their return to the top flight, it is clear that they are making necessary changes to their squad. Offloading Shelvey will free up space for new signings and allow Cooper to build a team that is capable of competing in the Premier League. While Gibbs-White remains an important player for Forest, his exclusion from the training camp is merely a well-deserved break after his international exploits.
The upcoming matches against Valencia and Levante will provide Forest with valuable preparation ahead of their Premier League opener against Arsenal. These games will allow Cooper to assess his squad and make any necessary adjustments before the start of the season.
In conclusion, Nottingham Forest’s decision to exclude Jonjo Shelvey from their training camp in Spain highlights their intention to move him out of the club. On the other hand, Morgan Gibbs-White has been given time off following his impressive performances with the England under-21 side. As Forest prepares for their return to the Premier League, these changes in the squad are crucial for their success in the upcoming season.