Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford.
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Marcus Rashford takes a free-kick for England.
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Marcus Rashford playing for Manchester United.
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Michael Carrick playing for Manchester United.
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Newcastle United v Everton
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James Garner playing for Everton.
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It’s time for David Moyes to drop James Garner for Everton
At the end of last season, James Garner scooped Everton’s Player of the Season award and that was an accolade he really deserved.
Garner was so consistent for the Toffees, whether it was playing in his usual central midfield position, or on either side of the defence as a full-back.
The hope was that he would kick on even further this season. But that hasn’t happened and there is now concern about Garner’ form.
He underwent groin surgery in the summer, which caused him to miss Everton’s pre-season, and he was unable to start the opening game against Crystal Palace, instead coming on as a substitute. He’s started all the Premier League games since, but Garner just isn’t influencing like he did last season.
He is yet to make any assists for Everton or score. Garner’s creativity was an impressive aspect of his game last season and he had an xA of 0.18, which put him in the 86th percentile (via Fotmob). This term, it’s just 0.09 and he is way down in the 54th percentile.
He isn’t breaking the lines as much (9.30 per 90, vs 11.07 per 90 this season) and he’s also not creating chances as regularly (1.05 vs 1.48).
And some of his physical data has waned compared to last term. He is making fewer sprints per 90 (7.80 vs 10.97 last season) and is covering slightly less distance in games (11.2km vs 11.3km).
Garner is not winning as many duels per 90 as he was last season (3.60 and 51.1%, vs 5.51 and 61.3%).
Some footage of Garner ambling back during an Arsenal attack has only worried fans more that Garner is just not at his best level at the moment.
He is a player who has been so trusted by Moyes since he came back for a second spell. Last season, he started all 38 of Everton’s Premier League games, playing nearly every minute. And he was again a regular when Moyes came in midway through the 2024/25 season.
But with Harrison Armstrong impressing and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall still providing some threat, it may well be time now to rotate – with Hayden Hackney waiting in the wings.
Hayden Hackney needs a chance
Hayden Hackney hasn’t been used nearly enough so far by Moyes. Against Chelsea, he was inexplicably left on the bench when Everton were chasing the game, and against Arsenal he came on late.
He’s only started that first league game against Palace, essentially because Garner just wasn’t ready.
But he is easily Everton’s best line-breaker and is someone who looks to be positive in his play, while still providing good work-rate.
It would be an uncomfortable thing for Moyes to drop Garner, but given his form and the presence of Hackney it’s surely something he has to now consider.
Harrison Armstrong playing for Everton.
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