Forest still hopeful Gibbs-White can play Europa tie
Morgan Gibbs-White and Robert Sanchez were both taken off after colliding
- Published
Nottingham Forest remain hopeful that Morgan Gibbs-White will be able to play in Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Aston Villa.
Head coach Vitor Pereira said after Monday's win at Chelsea that Forest will "hope for a miracle" after Gibbs-White collided with home goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, leading to both players coming off with their heads bandaged.
Gibbs-White needed several stitches and, asked on Wednesday whether the England midfielder can face Villa, Forest boss Pereira said: "We'll see tomorrow, if he's able to play or not.
"It is not a question for me, it's a decision between the player and medical department.
"We will have a last meeting to decide. We have a plan with him and without him."
Forest are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions and take a 1-0 lead into Thursday's match at Villa Park.
Gibbs-White uploaded an image to Instagram on Monday
Gibbs-White posted a photo on social media on Monday, thanking people for their messages and showing the stitches across his forehead and nose.
Sanchez also posted a photo of some stitches at the top of his head and added in reference to Gibbs-White: "Seen that you came out worst [worse] than me, hope you are OK big man."
Pereira said that Gibbs-White's substitution was not related to concussion, so he is not subject to strict protocols surrounding such head injuries.
That means the 26-year-old's availability for Thursday is only dependent on whether the cut on his face heals in time.
Had Gibbs-White been judged to be concussed, he would probably have been ruled out. Players must not return to activity for at least 24 hours, before following a 48-hour period of rest and six-stage "return to play" process.
Villa have their own injury worries
Amadou Onana is out for Villa, having failed to recover from the knee injury which forced him off in the first leg.
The midfielder was a doubt for the game, having missed the 1-0 defeat at Fulham, and came off in the second half at the City Ground.
He did not train with the squad on Wednesday and is sidelined at Villa Park on Thursday.
"Obviously not," said boss Unai Emery, when asked if the former Everton star was available.
Skipper John McGinn is fit, though, having sat out Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Tottenham.
"He trained normally and if he is not changing something, he is going to be available for tomorrow," added Emery.
Villa have lost their two previous semi-finals under Emery - the Europa Conference League to Olympiacos two years ago and last season's FA Cup semi-final to Crystal Palace.
"Only one team wins. When I spoke before the first leg, we have a 25% chance to get a trophy," said Emery.
"Now, maybe it is less because we started losing. We have a 50% chance, or maybe less, to play the final. This is football and you must respect every competition and respect Europe. You must respect each team."
Is one concussion sub enough?
Premier League teams are permitted to make one concussion replacement per match, which do not count towards their usual substitution limits. On Monday, Chelsea used that dispensation for youngster Jesse Derry.
The 18-year-old, who was making his debut, clashed heads with Forest's Zach Abbott and was taken to hospital. Chelsea said he was "conscious, talking and undergoing precautionary checks".
Brain injury charity Headway's chief executive Luke Griggs praised the care given to Derry and Abbott but added that the subsequent collision between Gibbs-White and Sanchez "shows that head injury protocols need to go much further".
"The use of concussion substitutions is certainly welcome, though with each team only receiving one permanent concussion substitute per game, clubs are limited as to what they can do when additional head injuries occur and frustration remains with football's unfathomable refusal to allow temporary concussion subs," said Griggs.
"Questions will rightly be asked about Gibbs-White and Sanchez not being subjected to the mandatory return-to-play protocols, due to them not being replaced as concussion substitutes.
"This is not about the clubs, which clearly provided first-rate treatment to their players, it's about the laws and protocols of the game - ensuring player welfare drives decision-making."
