EXCLUSIVE: Everton's most-successful captain Kevin Ratcliffe discusses James Garner's England call-up and the Blues' European hopes
Everton's James Garner poses next to the England crest while on international duty at St George's Park on March 24, 2026
Everton's James Garner poses next to the England crest while on international duty at St George's Park on March 24, 2026(Image: Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA via Getty Images)
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Everton’s most successful captain Kevin Ratcliffe reckons James Garner would have already broken into the England side if he was playing for a London club.
Garner, who has been repeatedly praised by David Moyes this season for his performances, and signed a new improved contract in January, committing himself until the summer of 2030, has been called up by Thomas Tuchel for the first time as England host Uruguay in a friendly at Wembley on Friday.
Although the Three Lions boss has watched several high-profile wins for Everton in person this season – he was present when they triumphed away at Manchester United, Aston Villa and Fulham – Ratcliffe, who was capped 59 times for Wales, reckons the 25-year-old who is one of seven players on a shortlist to be Premier League Player of the Month for March, would have been given his maiden call-up sooner, had he been plying his trade in the capital.
So far, Everton have provided 71 players for the England team – the same figure as Manchester United, Garner’s previous club – but despite the Blues having won nine League Championships and the Red Devils 20, they’re both behind the all-time leader Tottenham Hotspur, who have provided a record 81 players for the England team despite only having a couple of titles to their name.
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Aston Villa are second up on 79 but even the amateurs of London-based Corinthian FC – dissolved in 1939 when they merged with Casuals, and without an international since 1936, remain one player above Liverpool, (76 to 75) with Arsenal next in the pecking order on 74.
Speaking at ‘The Night That Made History,’ an event hosted by Christopher Ward at Hill Dickinson Stadium to honour Everton’s conquerors of Bayern Munich from 1985, Ratcliffe told the ECHO: “I think if James was playing for a London club, then he’d have been in the squad a few months ago. I believe he’s been so under the radar for England which is a shame because I thought he was outstanding last year and outstanding this year.
“Unfortunately, at times, we’ve had to play our best midfield player at right-back. That shows you where we are as a club. We really need to get that position sorted and put the players in the positions that they’re suited like Jarrad Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien, even though, for me, Jake has also been great playing at right-back.”
Ratcliffe hopes that Everton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea – their biggest victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium to date both in terms of the scoreline and magnitude of the opposition – can prove a watershed moment at their new 52,769 capacity home on the Mersey waterfront. He said: “The stadium is stunning to be fair. The one thing that it’s lacking at the moment is history but hopefully that comes.
“Without being detrimental to the other teams who Everton had won against here, in overcoming Chelsea, they’d beaten a big side. Until they can overcome a Manchester United or a Liverpool here, that’s going to stand out, and it was quite comfortable in the end.
“It just shows you, when everyone is on the ball, I don’t think there was a player who was off it, what we’re capable of. Chelsea are a very good side, and a young one too, so that should have meant they were fitter and running further, but we were quicker in a lot of departments though and it was nice to see.”
The result leaves Everton, who were one point above the relegation zone when David Moyes returned at the midway point of last season, just three points off a Champions League qualification spot with seven games to go. The Blues return to action at Brentford, who are level on points and one place above them, on April 11, before hosting Liverpool – currently sat fifth in that last Champions League position – in the first Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium on April 19.
After a series of survival battles in recent years, Ratcliffe doesn’t feel Everton need to qualify for Europe for the season to be deemed a success, but he reckons if they did, it might encourage The Friedkin Group to give the green light on more spending. The 65-year-old said: “For me personally, if we were to get a European place then great, but it wouldn’t worry me if we didn’t because I think we’re a little bit short and it might hamper us in one way. I’m not sure if the squad is strong enough for that yet, but perhaps that might force your hand a little bit to make it stronger.
“I’d just be a bit concerned if we didn’t because some of these clubs who have scraped into the Conference League have suffered the season after, and I wouldn’t want that. I’d like us to be able to build and become a solid top-10 team and then take it on to go higher.”
Playing in Ratcliffe’s old position of left-sided centre-back, if Everton are to qualify for Europe then they might have to do it by being careful with Branthwaite’s playing time. The squad’s most valuable asset penned a new five-year deal last summer but didn’t kick a ball in a competitive match between the Blues’ final game at Goodison Park and Leeds United’s first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium on January 26.
By the time Ratcliffe was Branthwaite’s age, he’d already captained Everton to victory in the FA Cup final, but he advocates a safety-first policy with the England international as he looks to stay fit after a series of hamstring troubles. He said: “I think given the position we’re in, it’s a good idea from David Moyes to manage Jarrad’s minutes after he was out for eight months. I’m sure the medical department will be keeping an eye on him to make sure they don’t do things too quickly.
“Jarrad is still relatively inexperienced, but he looks a find. To me, he looks like he’s another John Stones doesn’t he?”