Gibbs-White injury update: Forest captain doubt, no timeline for Nico O'Reilly
Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt for Nottingham Forest against Arsenal with a minor muscle injury, while Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly is still awaiting a diagnosis after leaving England duty.
Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt for the Premier League trip to face Arsenal on 18 October after picking up a minor muscle injury at Crystal Palace, manager Oliver Glasner confirmed on Friday 16 October 2026. In the same Premier League injury round-up, there is still no published diagnosis for Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly, who withdrew from the England squad during the international break and missed the 2-0 Nations League win over Czechia. Here is the latest Gibbs-White injury update and everything known about O'Reilly's situation.
Gibbs-White injury update: Forest captain a doubt for Arsenal
Gibbs-White sustained the problem in Forest's previous league outing at Crystal Palace and was unable to take part in training throughout the week. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, as reported by Fantasy Football Scout, Glasner was direct about the situation: "Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt. He couldn't train the entire week with us."
The Austrian coach did, however, offer some encouragement. He indicated that the muscle injury did not appear to be very serious and that there was still a chance his captain could be available for the trip to north London. That leaves the decision likely to go down to the final assessment before the match, and Forest are unlikely to take unnecessary risks if the midfielder is not fully ready.
Forest team news: Milenković, Savona and Igor Jesus
Glasner also updated on several other members of his squad. The picture going into the Arsenal game, according to Fantasy Football Scout, is mixed:
- Morgan Gibbs-White – minor muscle injury, doubt.
- Nikola Milenković – trained for the first time this week, a positive sign for the defence.
- Nicolò Savona – knee injury, ruled out.
- Igor Jesus – calf injury, ruled out.
Losing Igor Jesus removes an attacking option, and Savona's absence affects the defensive rotation, which makes Gibbs-White's availability even more significant for Forest's chances of taking something from the Emirates.
Why Gibbs-White matters for Nottingham Forest
Gibbs-White has been central to Forest's identity since joining from Wolves in 2022. An England international and the club captain, he links midfield to attack, carries the ball through the lines and is often the player who supplies the final pass. Without him, Forest lose a large part of their creativity and their main outlet in transition.
That matters more given the current table. According to Yalla Shoot data for the Premier League, Forest are 15th after six matches with five points from one win, two draws and three defeats, having scored five goals and conceded eight. Their recent form reads L-L-W-D-D, so they have avoided defeat in their last three, but they need a stronger run to climb away from the lower half.
The opponents could hardly be tougher. Arsenal are second with 15 points from six matches, five wins and one defeat, and they have also won both of their Champions League games so far without conceding. A trip to the Emirates is a test Forest would want to face with their captain on the pitch.
Nico O'Reilly injury: withdrawn from England and back at Manchester City
The second strand of this Premier League injury news concerns Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly. The versatile academy graduate was part of the England squad for the October international window, but he did not feature in England's 2-0 UEFA Nations League victory over Czechia.
The Football Association later confirmed that he had left the camp entirely. Its statement, as reported by Fantasy Football Scout on 2 October, read: "Nico O'Reilly has returned to Manchester City and will play no part in the forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures." He went back to his club for further assessment, and since then neither England nor Manchester City have published a diagnosis or an expected timescale for his recovery.
What we know about O'Reilly so far
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| England vs Czechia (2-0 win) | Did not play |
| Remaining Nations League fixtures | Withdrawn by the FA |
| Current location | Back at Manchester City for assessment |
| Diagnosis | Not published |
| Return date | Not published |
Impact on Manchester City
City can cope with uncertainty better than most because of their form. Yalla Shoot data shows them top of the Premier League with a perfect record of six wins from six, 18 points, 16 goals scored and five conceded. Erling Haaland leads the league with six goals, Rayan Cherki has four goals and two assists, and Antoine Semenyo has chipped in with two goals and three assists.
O'Reilly's value lies in his flexibility. Since breaking into the first team in 2024-25, he has been used both at left-back and in midfield, which gives the coaching staff cover in more than one position. If he is unavailable for an extended period, City will have to reshuffle on the left side of the defence and in midfield rotation, especially with Champions League matches adding to the workload.
Background: Glasner, Gibbs-White and O'Reilly
Glasner arrived at Forest with strong credentials, having previously managed Crystal Palace, whom he led to the FA Cup in 2025. Ironically, it was at his former club that Gibbs-White picked up his latest knock. Gibbs-White himself has grown since his move from Wolves into an England international and the leader of the Forest dressing room. O'Reilly, meanwhile, represents the latest graduate of Manchester City's academy to establish himself in the senior squad.
What's next
For Forest, the key moment is the final fitness check on Gibbs-White before the Arsenal match on 18 October, with Glasner leaving the door open for his captain to play. For Manchester City, the next step is any update from the club on O'Reilly's assessment, which would clarify whether he faces a short or extended spell out. Follow both clubs on the Yalla Shoot live scores page, and check back for the next Gibbs-White injury update and O'Reilly return date as soon as official information is released.