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Former Manchester United player ruled out of Old Trafford return with Everton

James Garner (back row, middle right) pictured in 2017. (Image: 2017 Manchester United FC)

Former Manchester United midfielder James Garner is currently recovering from an injury and won't be involved with Everton's squad when they visit Old Trafford this weekend.

Ruben Amorim will manage his third game in charge of United on Sunday afternoon and the 39-year-old is looking for back-to-back wins.

Former manager Erik ten Hag made Garner available for transfer in the summer of 2022 and he signed for Everton for an initial fee of £9million, which could eventually rise to £15.5m. The 23-year-old has proven his quality when he's been fit, but he's currently sidelined.

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Everton manager Sean Dyche confirmed Garner is still yet to return to training on grass in his pre-match press conference but teased a potential debut for summer signing Armando Broja.

Broja came through Chelsea's academy and could provide Everton with firepower at Old Trafford. Dyche provided an update on team news and said: "AB’s looking really fit, so that’s good.

"Seamus Coleman is at least getting back on the grass, it probably won’t be enough for this weekend but he’s showing signs of truly getting fit after an up and down time with niggly injuries.

“There are playing still getting back to full fitness, full Premier League fitness, if you like. It’s coming, I don’t want to say too much because every time we do, we lose players again.

"We’ll see how he [Broja] goes today. We’re certainly going to monitor his minutes today. He’s done a real lot of background work, and feeling good. I’ve spoken to him about possibly being involved."

Garner joined United's academy at age seven and he progressed to make his first-team debut in 2019. After leaving United, he told The Times: "In the moment it is very disappointing. That was the club that I trained with five times a week for years and years and years, that I made my debut with.

"But I didn't want to stagnate. I didn't want to stay there really and when they said I could leave also, I was in agreement with that. I just think it all made sense. I had two good seasons on loan and returned to United in the summer. I know in myself I wouldn't have played if I had stayed.

"I knew it was the perfect time now, at 21, to move on and try and stake my claim somewhere else and hopefully find a home, which I have now in Everton. Where I am at in my career now, I didn't just want to be an extra body or I didn't want to just be a spare player in training."

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