Pereira optimistic Forest can work ‘magic’ to get Gibbs-White into Europa League semi-final

Vitor Pereira hopes Nottingham Forest can work some "magic" to make sure Morgan Gibbs-White is fit to face Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-final.

Forest ran out 3-1 winners over Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday to ease some of their relegation fears.

While Pereira named a much-changed side, he introduced some of his usual starters at half-time, including Gibbs-White.

However, the England international was forced off in the 66th minute after suffering a deep cut in a clash of heads with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

MGW x Taiwo pic.twitter.com/PcZXg9BNEg

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 4, 2026

Gibbs-White posted a photo on social media, thanking people for their well-wishes, while also showing the stitches across his forehead and nose.

But Forest face Villa in the second leg of their semi-final – which Forest lead 1-0 thanks to a Chris Wood penalty – and Pereira acknowledged Gibbs-White was in a race against the clock to be able to feature.

"I'm waiting – Gibbs-White has a deep cut, we'll see – he's a fighter, he has a strong mentality," Pereira said.

"No concussion. He's speaking normally, he remembers everything, but the only thing is the pain.

"I hope our medical department can do magic to put him in condition for Thursday. I said to him, 'You don't need to head [the ball], you just need to play!'"