James Garner was one of many casualties of Erik ten Hag’s revolution at Manchester United this summer, with the Dutchman letting several players go as he built his squad for the season.
The 21-year-old was tipped to enjoy a long career at Old Trafford but after many loan spells with varying success, the decision to let him go was made by Ten Hag.
Garner was included in Ten Hag’s pre-season squad this summer but an untimely injury meant that he was not able to showcase his talents. Instead, fellow academy graduates Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal took the opportunity to shine in his absence.
Garner ended up joining Everton after interest from several Premier League clubs and spectacularly, he made his debut for the Toffees against United at Goodison Park last month.
Speaking recently, the midfielder has now opened up on leaving the club he joined as a kid, insisting it was the right time to leave after failing to integrate himself into the first team.
“In the moment it is very disappointing,” Garner told The Times. “That was the club that I trained with five times a week for years and years and years, that I made my debut with.
“But I didn’t want to stagnate. I didn’t want to stay there really and when they said I could leave also, I was in agreement with that. I just think it all made sense. I had two good seasons on loan and returned to United in the summer.
“I know in myself I wouldn’t have played if I had stayed. I knew it was the perfect time now, at 21, to move on and try and stake my claim somewhere else and hopefully find a home, which I have now in Everton.”
SN’s verdict…
Academy graduates always get a chance to impress if they’re good enough but unfortunately for Garner, his time to shine coincided with the side needing investments in his position.
United signed Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. The arrival of two world-class players was always going to make it difficult for Garner to have a breakthrough season.
Players will always get a chance to become first-team regulars if there is a realistic route but in this case, there was not.
