'Worth a place': Ex-Wolves chief who wanted £42.5m man to stay at Molineux gives out World Cup backing

Morgan Gibbs-White’s career has gone from strength to strength since he made a £42.5m switch from Wolves to Nottingham Forest in 2022.

The academy graduate had been one of the standout stars to come off the Wolves production - and had made impact in the England youth sides.

But after 88 senior appearances his future was away from Molineux after he was sold. Since moving to the City Ground, he has been a key player for Forest, helping them survive in the top flight.

He was handed the captain’s armband and went on to break into the England squad, picking up four caps.

He was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s 35 man provisional squad ahead of the World Cup - but a former Wolves chief believes he should go to the tournament this summer.

Scott Sellars, a former technical director at Molineux who coached Gibbs-White in the academy, believes he has done enough to earn a spot.

And he also told BBC Sport he was against the club selling Gibbs-White, believing at the time he was on the same level as Manchester City’s Phil Foden.

Sellars, who now works at Al Jazira Club in the UAE, said: "I always felt he would play for England and at youth level he compared to the best. I worked with Phil Foden at City, so I knew his level and I always felt Morgan was around that.

"His mentality and his attitude would mean he would get opportunities to play at the highest level. Anything he's done in his career has been no surprise.

"His attitude was the first thing I saw at about 15, just his enthusiasm and how he got around the game and wanted to get on the ball. Then when he got the ball, he'd do something.

"When he's played for England, his performances have been of a high quality.

"He's bringing goals and at World Cup level games can be so tight, it can be on people who've got that quality of finish win you the game.

"I'm surprised he wasn't in the 35 [man squad]. If you're looking at form, I'm even more surprised.

"He probably more of a complete midfield player than a number 10. If other players are not on form, one or two injuries as well which can always happen, then I think he's certainly worth a place in the squad."