James Garner had barely checked into his hotel before having to cut short his holiday. The Everton midfielder got an England call-up just as he was getting into his hotel room in Bodrum in Turkey for a break with his partner.
“I had just arrived so it was a very short holiday,” said Garner. “I came back the day after. I got to my hotel room at half twelve at night, which is what, half ten here, and I left the next day. I slept, had the morning in the sun and left.”
Refund and Gibbs-White video
Garner is working on getting a refund but copying Morgan Gibbs-White’s social media video of him leaving his holiday to join up was never going to happen. “No. That’s not me,” he smiled.
Garner is thoughtful, polite and understated but very excited when it comes to representing England. He got his first call-up in March, impressed Thomas Tuchel but did not do quite enough to make the World Cup squad.
Leaving Manchester United
But if you do not succeed at first, keep trying. That has been motto since he decided to quit Manchester United where he started in their academy and eventually ended up at Everton where he is now a mainstay.
Garner said: “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 left.
“It was the perfect thing for me to do. I’ve never been shy of going into a more uncomfortable place. I went on loan three times, I went to Watford and then twice to Nottingham Forest, so I wasn’t worried about moving, changing scenery.
“It was about playing games and Everton was the perfect choice. I didn’t want to fizzle into the background and sit on the bench. 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.”
Valverde comparison and nickname
That has projected Garner into the England picture. He shone in March against Uruguay when Tuchel described him as a “mini Valverde” in comparison to Real Madrid superstar Federico. It also comes from their versatility as Garner can play right-back and maybe a hint that they are both slightly underrated.
Garner said: “Yeah, it’s a good comparison to have because in my opinion he’s one of the best midfielders in the world. To be compared to him is a very good comparison. There’s probably a little bit of similarities in terms of he plays in different positions – midfield, he’s played on the wing, he’s played right-back, the same as me so to be compared to someone like that is good.
“You wouldn’t really call him a household name, would you? But players who have played the game, they know how good he is. I watch all the Champions League games and he always stands out, so I would go as far as saying that he’s underrated.”
Garner also wants to make a name for himself. But it is James to his mum and dad and Jimmy to all his team-mates. He added: “Because my name is James, isn’t it. It’s a nickname really. My mum and dad call me James, and that’s what it says on my birth certificate. James. But because I moved to Manchester so early, the lads just kind of gave me the name of Jimmy and it just stuck. There are a lot of Jameses, so if there are two Jameses, I’ll go with Jimmy. That’s fine.”
