Everton’s James Garner is quickly becoming an integral part of Sean Dyche’s team and will be a key player again when they face Luton Town in the Premier League, according to the Guardian’s Andy Hunter.
“James Garner is one of the most astute signings in recent times at Goodison,” Hunter wrote for the UK’s leading football publication ahead of the weekend’s games. “He was signed for £15m in summer 2022 by Sky Sports and scored his first goal for the club in the 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday (September 27) – another brilliant individual effort after his impressive display against Brentford the previous weekend.”
“James Garner’s form and positioning has been a key factor in the turnaround,” wrote Hunter in The Guardian. “He has been one of the most astute signings at Everton in recent times, scoring his first goal and winning Player of the Match at Aston Villa.”
Hunter added that, despite plugging a number of “square pegs with round holes” at the start of the season, “I think we may have finally found the formula”.
The Guardian also reported that the £15m signing from Manchester United had been given a rare start at Villa Park in his preferred central midfield role, partnering Amadou onana to great effect.
After plugging a few blind alleys in the early stages of the season, Dyche now faces options and tough decisions as he tries to turn Everton’s impressive away form into their first win of the campaign at Goodison.
Excellent Player
Garner has made an immediate impact in his first few weeks at the club, having repaid Frank Lampard’s faith in him last September.
Lampard undoubtedly got one thing right when he arrived at Goodison during his stormy time on Merseyside, and fans are now fully aware of the quality and class that he brings, even if he’s playing in unfamiliar positions under Dyche.
The former Manchester United youth academy graduate has been one of the stand-out players in the Toffees’ season so far, and is now indisputably one of the best in the team.
Everton’s last two wins have been largely down to his tireless work in midfield, with Onana and James Tarkowski on either side of him, Jarrad Brantwaite in the back, and Dominic Calvert-Lewis on the wing.
If they can keep that impressive group of players fit and performing for the next few weeks, then the Toffees could well be on their way to a much better season than the last two campaigns in which they came close to relegation.
The Toffees are in a bidding war for one of the best teenage footballers in Brazil, and a January exit is now a possibility.
