James Garner has admitted he may never have played for England if he had stayed at Manchester United. The midfielder left Old Trafford permanently in 2022 to join Everton, where he has become a key player and earned international recognition.
Garner's Journey from Old Trafford to Goodison
Garner spent 13 years with Manchester United, having joined at under-eight level. He made only seven first-team appearances for the Red Devils and was sent out on loan three times, with spells at Watford and two separate stints at Nottingham Forest.
In 2022, he made the decision to leave permanently, joining Premier League rivals Everton. Since then, he has made 125 appearances for the Merseyside club, scoring five goals.
International Recognition and Recent Call-Up
His form at Everton has led to international recognition, with Garner making his England debut earlier this year. He has been named in Thomas Tuchel's latest squad for upcoming Nations League games, coming in as a replacement following the withdrawals of five players, including Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo.
Reflecting on his decision to move to Everton, Garner hinted that he might not have made his England debut had he stayed at Old Trafford.
"I think it was the perfect thing for me to do," he 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 did.
"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.
"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."
Surprise Call-Up During Holiday
Garner's latest call-up came as a surprise, as he had flown to Turkey for a holiday during the extended international break. He added: "It was a very short holiday. 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. I'm trying to work on a little thing on the hotel so that I'm not losing all my money! So I can at least go back and have the holiday that I paid for. We'll see what happens…"
