Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Tue 14 April 2026 20:10, UK

Everton midfielder James Garner has continued to grow in stature throughout his time on Merseyside.

Following a promotion-winning loan spell with Nottingham Forest in the 2021-22 season, Garner would join Everton in the summer of 2022, joining from Manchester United.

After a difficult start to life at Finch Farm, the midfielder is now proving undroppable under David Moyes, as the Toffees fight for a European spot.

Across the entire Premier League, Nottingham Forest’s Nikola Milenkovic is the only outfielder to rack up more minutes, with Garner missing just six minutes of football this term.

Alongside his role in Moyes’ side, the 25-year-old would also make his England debut over the most recent international break – something that would have been hard to believe for Blues fans following his early years at the club.

James Garner resurgence highlighted by the data

While Garner would suffer with multiple injury issues across his debut year with the Toffees, he would never gain the best reputation among the fanbase.

This came at a time when Everton as a club was failing systematically, with multiple battles at the wrong end of the table under Sean Dyche.

As highlighted in the table above, the midfielder has continued to improve throughout his time at Finch Farm, and has now worked himself into a position where he is undroppable under Moyes.

Alongside 2,874 minutes in the league, Garner played each minute of Everton’s cup matches this season, further emphasising just how important he has become.

The Toffees are locked in a battle for a European spot for the first time since 2017, and if anything, Garner’s growth in the side is indicative of the job done by the returning manager.

Garner improvement is indicative of David Moyes’ stellar job

Returning to the club following the sacking of Sean Dyche during the 2024-25 campaign, Moyes improved Everton almost instantaneously.

After a tumultuous period fighting at the wrong end of the standings, the Scotsman worked incredibly to steer the Toffees to safety with relative simplicity.

This season, things have only continued to improve at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Now, the Blues are a ready-made mid-table side, while they are also one that carry European ambitions.

When Moyes rejoined the club last season, he took over a rather downtrodden squad, one that had become used to the standards at the wrong end of the standings.

The improvement in standards has taken a massive toll on the players, with many looking nothing alike the individuals seen in yesteryear.

Garner sits among this group, having become an integral part of Everton’s midfield, and a potential England international at the upcoming World Cup.

Continuing to improve on Merseyside, Everton fans would never have predicted just how important the now midfield talisman would become.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.