James Garner Credits Everton Move for England Call-Up, Says Man United Stay Would Have Hindered Progress
Midfielder James Garner believes his transfer from Manchester United to Everton was pivotal for his international career, stating he might not have represented England if he had remained at Old Trafford.
England midfielder James Garner has credited his move to Everton as the catalyst for his international career, asserting that staying at Manchester United would likely have prevented him from playing for the national team.
Garner, an academy product of Manchester United, is currently vying for a midfield position in the England squad for an upcoming Nations League match against Spain. His recent performances for Everton have drawn the attention of manager Thomas Tuchel, and he narrowly missed out on World Cup selection after a standout debut against Uruguay in March.
Reflecting on his departure from his boyhood club, Garner stated, "I think it was the perfect thing for me to do. I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. When I left they signed three or four midfielders, world class ones. Had I stayed I wouldn’t have been where I am today so I am more than happy that I did."
Garner, 25, highlighted his willingness to embrace challenging environments, citing his three loan spells at Watford and Nottingham Forest. "I've never been shy of going into a more uncomfortable place," he said. "So I wasn't worried about moving at all, changing scenery or anything that. For me, it was just about playing games and Everton was the perfect choice at that point. I didn’t just want to fizzle into the background and just sit on the bench and stuff like that. I wanted to go into a team where I felt like I had a chance to fight for my position and that's what I have done in the past three or four years."
Garner joined the Manchester United academy at age 8 and moved to Everton at 21. During his time at Old Trafford, he made two Premier League appearances and played in the Europa League. Now a key player for Everton under David Moyes, Garner, who began his career as a center-back and admired Nemanja Vidic, is eager to secure a permanent place in Tuchel's England squad.
His call-up came as a surprise while he was on holiday. "It was a very short holiday," Garner recalled with a laugh. "I had literally just got into my hotel room and I got the call. That’s not an over exaggeration either. I came back the day after. I slept, had the morning in the sun and left."
Tuchel has compared Garner to Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, a comparison Garner views positively. "Yeah, it’s a good comparison to have because in my opinion he’s one of the best midfielders in the world," Garner said. "There’s probably a little bit of similarity in terms of he plays in different positions too."