James Garner may have found new position for Everton after England success
Everton player James Garner has been named in the Team of the Tournament for the UEFA U21 European Championships, having played a starring role as England won the competition.
When Everton bought Garner from Manchester United last summer, many expected him to take his place in midfield as he had done so well for Nottingham Forest on loan prior to his move to Goodison, but Garner has thrived recently in a new role.
Previously deployed as a deep-lying midfield player, Garner started Everton’s final couple of games last season as a right wing-back, including the victory over Bournemouth that earned Everton Premier League safety.
Throughout the U21 Euros, Garner was deployed as a right-back in all six of England’s games, with five as a starter and one off the bench as the team didn’t concede a single goal in the tournament.
This is the clearest indication possible that Garner may have found himself a new role at Everton, and could capitalise on Seamus Coleman’s injury to stake his claim for the starting position against Scotland full-back Nathan Patterson.
Garner impressed throughout this summer’s international tournament, enough to be named in the Team of the Tournament alongside six of his England teammates, including former Everton man Anthony Gordon.
In an Everton side that is so stacked in terms of midfield players, Garner may well have found a way to start. He would not have been picked over any of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Alex Iwobi or Andre Onana, but faces up better compared to Patterson and Coleman.
Those two may need to watch out.
In other Everton news, the club could come to regret a decision to let this player go