Dyche reveals his message for Gibbs-White after taking over at Nottingham Forest – and provides update on midfielder | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche revealed that one of his first conversations with Morgan Gibbs-White when arriving at the club was to relax and enjoy playing again.

The 25-year-old dominated headlines throughout the summer during a transfer saga with Spurs, before ultimately signing a new three-year deal, committing his future to Forest.

But speaking before Sunday’s match against Brighton, Dyche said that his advice to Gibbs-White was to simply return to playing with a smile.

“I just really wanted him to play with a smile again,” Dyche said.

“There’s been a lot of noise in the summer, and all that, and it can carry a bit of weight to it. When we got in, I said, look, just go and play. I said, it’s nothing to do with me, all of that. Why don’t you just go and relax, go and play and train?

“He has done, and he’s an infection the way he goes about his training. [He’s a] very good character around the group and he’s doing nicely,” Dyche added.

After managing just one goal in 13 matches to start the season, Gibbs-White has now found the net three times in his last four outings.

“For me, it’s just been ‘take a load off and enjoy your football’, and I think he’s doing that. Some of the tactical stuff is just reminders.

“It’s not always genius stuff. If you keep arriving in the box and you are fit enough to do so, well, something will come your way. So the more you do it, the more chance you’ve got. Some of the simplest forms of coaching are often the best.”

Gibbs-White watched from the stands after picking up a knock as Forest beat Malmo 3–0 in the Europa League, but Dyche is hopeful he will be available for Sunday’s game.

“Hopefully it’s settling down,” he said. “It’s like a bad back, a waking-up sort of injury. It’s one of those ones where you just sleep funny or twist funny, so we’re not expecting, at this stage anyway, that it’s too serious, and it’s settling down already.

“We’re hopeful that he’ll be alright for the weekend.”

Dyche also confirmed that he is not expecting any of the longer-term absentees, such as Chris Wood, Ola Aina and Douglas Luiz, to return this weekend.

However, he did offer a positive update on Dilane Bakwa, who has been out since early October with a hamstring injury.

“He’s been back on the grass,” Dyche said. “He’s making a good recovery now, and he’s working very, very hard with the sports science team.

“So he’s over his injury as such, but now it’s about the base fitness levels and improving that. He’s going well at the minute. Not necessarily for this game coming up, but sooner rather than later.”