Credit: Imago/England on X

James Barker

Fri 27 March 2026 6:10, UK

Everton star James Garner should be in England’s starting XI at the World Cup over Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

Garner enjoyed a landmark moment in his career this week, after receiving his first ever call-up to England’s senior squad.

Thomas Tuchel has evidently liked what he’s seen from Everton’s number 37 in recent weeks, and why wouldn’t he?

The 25-year-old has arguably been the Toffees’ best player this season, enjoying a career year at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and no doubt making his signature a coveted one heading into the summer window.

However, he still needs a strong final seven games of the Premier League season with Everton, as in Nottingham Forest’s Anderson, he has strong competition for a starting spot in Tuchel’s Three Lions team.

Why James Garner should start over Elliot Anderson for England

Garner is among the Premier League’s best midfielders, of that there is now little doubt.

However, if there was one department in particular where England are at their strongest and deepest, it’s central midfield.

Anderson, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are all in England’s squad for the March internationals.

That’s not counting the attacking midfielders such as Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers respectively, who could all operate as eights rather than in the 10 if required.

But, it’s Anderson that Garner looks to be in the closest competition with for a spot in Tuchel’s XI, and it’s the Everton man who should win that battle.

Garner has only played 10 more minutes of Premier League football than Anderson has this season, but the Toffees star has six more goal contributions, created five more big chances and is winning a considerable amount more of his duels.

As per Sofascore, the Toffees star has a passing accuracy of 88 per cent compared to Anderson’s 86 per cent, whilst only making one error leading to an opposition shot, with Anderson making three.

The Forest player has recovered 8.4 balls per game this season, whereas Garner has 4.9, but in an England team that shouldn’t be turning the ball over much in midfield anyway, that’s not a huge deal in this context.

Garner also has a higher expected assists (4.77 vs 3.51), more interceptions per game (1.6 vs 1.1), higher tackles per match (3.0 vs 2.9) and less possession lost (12.5 vs 18.0) than Anderson in 2025-26.

Tuchel should hand Garner minutes in England friendlies

There’s every chance that Tuchel will field different starting XI’s for the two England friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, and Garner should at least get one of those games to show what he can do.

Rice, so long as he’s fit, is a locked-in starter for England’s opening World Cup game against Croatia on 17 June, but the honour of playing alongside him for the Three Lions is firmly up for grabs.

Out of the two friendlies, England’s midfield will likely be tested more against Uruguay than Japan, as the South American team having players like Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde and Man United’s Manuel Ugarte respectively.

Therefore, Garner will probably be hoping to play more minutes against them, as should he pass the test with flying colours against Uruguay, then that could really help bolster his standing with Tuchel over Anderson.