Former Everton midfielder Gareth Barry has been speaking about current Blues pair Jack Grealish and James Garner
Gareth Barry believes Jack Grealish’s move from Manchester City to Everton is reigniting his career – just like when he made the same switch. Barry also initially moved from the Etihad Stadium to Goodison Park on a season-long loan in 2013.
But he ended up spending four seasons on Merseyside, playing 155 times and scoring five goals. While at the Blues he became the third player after Ryan Giggs (632) and future Everton manager Frank Lampard (609) to make 600 Premier League appearances and now holds the competition record, finishing on 653 with the still active James Milner (645) his closest challenger.
Grealish, whose career has followed a similar path to Barry’s having started at Aston Villa, became the first £100million English footballer when he joined Man City in 2021 but despite playing an influential role in their 2023 ‘treble-winning’ season when they lifted the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, he had become surplus to requirements for Pep Guardiola this summer and was left out of their squad for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Asked how important the support of the Everton fanbase has been to reviving the 30-year-old’s career, Barry, speaking courtesy of OLBG, told the ECHO: “Yeah, when he was linked with Everton in the summer, I was thinking this could be the perfect move for Jack in terms of where his career was. It had stalled a bit at City and having done the same move, it sort of reignited me.
“I was even older than Jack and I found another gear even in my 30s just going to sign for Everton. They’re fantastic fans.
“They really get behind you if you know you’re putting that 100% in. They’ll back you all the way.
“I think Jack is reaping the rewards. He’s come in, he feels part of it, he feels one of the main men again and his confidence is showing.
“I’m disappointed he’s not really had a look in from the England set-up. I thought that move might just give him a look and Thomas Tuchel might have a look at him but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be going that way.
“If I was telling Jack now, I’d say keep doing what you’re doing because you never know what can happen, injuries, keep playing well. So don’t throw the towel in terms of England yet.”
The ECHO understands that Everton are in talks with James Garner over a new contract and as someone who primarily operates in central midfield but can also do a job at full-back – like Barry himself used to be – the 44-year-old is also a fan of the player who has earned rave reviews from manager David Moyes this season.
Barry said: “I can see him becoming an important player for Everton going forwards.
“When you’re someone like James, I think he’s 24 now – you know you’ve got that ability. When I watch him, it’s clear that he’s got all the tools.
“He’s an all-action player, good at set pieces. He can link attacks and break it up.
“I think you just want that faith in your manager. You want that confidence to have a run of games and then you can show and get into the rhythm and show everybody what you can do, and I think that’s what I’m seeing from him this season.
“The manager’s put the faith in him and he is reaping the rewards for his performances.
“He’s been top class and more importantly what the manager wants is consistency and that’s what they’re getting from him.
“So, I think the more he plays he can get better and better. He’s linking up well with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and they’ve got great talent out on the wings as well which he can compliment.”