It has been quite the season for Everton star James Garner, who remains in the conversation for a first England call-up.
The 2025/26 campaign has seen the former Manchester United man really take his game to another level.
Did anyone else aside from Dewsbury-Hall impress you? 🤔
Fulham v Everton - Premier League
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The ace showed brilliant versatility early on in the season, playing at both full-back positions. And more recently, he really stepped up in midfield in the absence of Idrissa Gana Gueye.
James Garner’s consistency has really impressed Everton fans.
And for many now, it is time that Thomas Tuchel handed him a first call-up to the England squad.
The next squad will be announced next month ahead of the friendly games with Uruguay and Japan, and there’s every chance he could be included.
But what does the player himself think?
James Garner speaks on his England chances after Everton beat Fulham
James Garner warming up for Everton.
Photo by Tiego Grenho/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Garner recently impressed against Aston Villa for Everton, which was significant because Tuchel was in the crowd watching.
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Potentially he may have been there watching other players that day, but Garner surely put himself on his radar if not.
On Saturday, Tuchel was at Craven Cottage to watch Fulham and Everton face off.
And it was a great showing from Garner against Fulham, and after the game he was asked about Tuchel being present and his own England prospects.
He said (via BBC Sport): “I am glad that we won. I am just playing as best as I can at the moment and helping the team. If the manager was here, then that helps me.
“I have touched on it before. I am a very realistic person and if you would have asked me 12 months ago I would have said I’m miles off it but this season, if I keep these performances up I don’t think there’s any reason why I can’t be in and around it.”
David Moyes previously said he thinks Garner is close to an England call-up, and we will soon discover if he’s done enough to get a chance.
Garner has to make March squad to have realistic World Cup chance
There is surely no way that Garner hasn’t thought about the World Cup, given how well he’s been playing this season.
But to be a surprise inclusion in that final squad, he will have to get called up for the March squad, one would imagine.
Is James Garner good enough to be playing for England at the World Cup? 🏴
Thomas Tuchel has not called him up to a squad yet…
ames Garner of Everton applauds during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton at Molineux.
Credit: Getty Images/Simon Stacpoole/Offside.
Because Tuchel will surely want to take a look at him playing with the Three Lions, rather than calling him up cold for the World Cup.
So these next few games are very important for Garner. They are his gateway to the next England squad.
Once there, he needs to try and make his mark in a big way, if he is to accompany Jordan Pickford on that plane to North America this summer.
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