Man Utd youngster that was so good he left Fred speechless - and where he is now
James Garner was once one of the shining lights of Manchester United's academy.
The midfielder was a Europa League regular to start the 2019/20 season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, having travelled on the club's pre-season tour alongside figures such as Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong. However, the January arrival of Bruno Fernandes ensured first team opportunities were difficult, combined with Paul Pogba's return from injury.
Nevertheless, the youngster, 19 at the time, left a positive impression on his team-mates. Speaking at the end of that season, Fred noted that Garner's talent had stood out.
The Brazilian told Sport Witness: "We have a lot of academy players with a lot of quality. Mason has been playing, but the one that surprised me the most and whose style I like the most is James Garner."
Garner did not feature in the second half of 2019/20 and sparsely made a matchday squad. The remainder of his United career was spent on loan.
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His first spell away from Old Trafford saw the Birkenhead-born ace join Watford. Garner was a regular for the Hornets before a change in manager saw Watford appoint Xisco Munoz and the Carrington product quickly fell out of favour.
United wasted little time in reacting and recalled their charge from his season-long loan and redirected him to Nottingham Forest, where he would spend the next 18 months. The City Ground saw Garner become a key member of the Midlands side and eventually helped Steve Cooper's team to their Premier League promotion.
Despite playing in Forest's play-off win, it was Everton that won his signature the following season. The £15million transfer came after Erik ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford and a heart-to-heart between the pair.
James Garner has cemented his place as an Everton regular under Sean Dyche (Tony McArdle/Everton FC)“When they start signing three, four midfielders you kind of understand your place. It was a decision that I wanted to make,” he told the Telegraph.
Garner made the move hoping to avoid to avoid stagnation in his career after making progress with Forest. The 22-year-old want to diminish any doubts that he could not make it in the Premier League.
He added: "That was always a question on my mind, I’ve done it in the Championship but the Premier League is the best league in the world, so can I compete against the best players in the world? I feel like I’m more than standing my ground. I feel that I’ve not even reached becoming the player that I know I can be."
Garner's time with the Toffees has been turbulent with a back injury disrupting his opening months at Goodison Park under Frank Lampard, while this term Everton suffered a points deduction for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
The midfielder has grown from strength to strength under Sean Dyche on his way to 25 starts already this season. Speaking earlier in the campaign, the former Everton boss identfied Garner as a 'very good player'.
He said: “His adaptability is very pleasing. He is a player that can use that wisely – and he does. He is growing into what he is, and that is a very good player.”
Garner compared survival with Everton to his success in the UEFA under-21 championship, when he won the tournament with England and was named in the team of the tournament.
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"It was a bit of a contrast," he said, "But the joy I felt on the last day of the Premier League season [beating Bournemouth] was just as good as that final win in the Euros."
This season will see Garner also attempt to secure Everton's survial. The Merseyside ace will hope his side can avoid relegation once again with the club sitting one point clear of the bottom three following their 10-point deduction.
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