James Garner always planned this to be a defining year in his career and is reaping the rewards after receiving a first England call-up, the Everton midfielder has said. The 25-year-old could make his international debut over the next week, having impressed Thomas Tuchel with his form.
England face Uruguay on Friday and Japan on Tuesday, giving Garner two chances of an international debut, with this the final chance for players to impress before the World Cup squad is announced. He received the news in a phone call from Tuchel last week, keeping the news to himself for a day before informing his family. “I told myself at the start of the season that this season has to be the season that I can show everyone what I can do and I think so far I have done,” Garner said.
“Since I signed for Everton I’ve had quite unlucky spells with two serious back injuries so that obviously put me out for a long time. Then obviously the first three years we’ve been fighting in the relegation zone so it’s been quite tough for me to really showcase what I can do.
“Then I just thought to myself that this season is a fresh season, new manager, new stadium. With a year left on my contract as well I knew that I had to show everybody what I’m really about and showcase all my talents. I’m glad that this season is going as well as it is.”
He has been an integral member of David Moyes’s Everton side, who sit eighth in the Premier League. Predominantly a central midfielder, Garner has also featured regularly as a right-back when required and is a set‑piece expert. Such versatility could be favourable when Tuchel names his 26-man squad.
Garner has featured for England at youth level from under-17s to under‑21s, and was a member of the team that won the Under-21 European Championship in 2023, alongside James Trafford and Cole Palmer, who are also part of the current squad. “I just want to go that one step further now and hopefully win a trophy for the first team as well,” Garner said.
Having come through the ranks at Manchester United and then joining Everton, Garner has created split loyalties, coming from a Liverpool‑supporting family. He is hoping his father will travel to Wembley this week from his home in Thailand.
“My dad’s very proud. Phoning him this time about England rather than a club that he doesn’t support is very nice and it was a very nice call as well.”
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