Joe Thomas writes after Everton midfielder James Garner impressed on his England debut in Friday's 1-1 draw with Uruguay at Wembley
Everton midfielder James Garner looks on during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium. Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Everton midfielder James Garner looks on during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium. Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
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"I feel like I did all right." It was a big understatement from Everton's James Garner as he appeared before the cameras in the aftermath of his England debut.
The Three Lions may have underwhelmed in their 1-1 draw with Uruguay but the Blues midfielder, earning his first senior cap in an experimental Thomas Tuchel line-up, certainly did not.
Garner, on the biggest stage of his career, looked comfortable alongside Jordan Henderson and Phil Foden in the heart of the England side, stepping up to win the man-of-the-match accolade.
Across his 69 minutes on the pitch, the 25-year-old led the way for the Three Lions on chances created, tackles won and passes in the final third.
His humility in front of the media outside the Wembley dressing rooms further contributed to his positive first impression, but he has every reason to take immense pride from a landmark moment in a career that has progressed significantly this season.
"It was a very good game to be a part of," Garner reflected on a match that burst into life after his withdrawal - Ben White prodding England ahead before conceding a late penalty that was converted by Real Madrid star Federico Valverde.
"My debut [came] against a very good team. The last 5/10 minutes was a bit crazy but it was a good game. I think we had the majority of the ball but didn't create as much as we would like. Maybe the result was fair in the end.
"I feel like I did all right. I didn't really put a foot wrong, really. Of course you wish for goals and assists on top of that but I am just very happy and very grateful to put on this England shirt for the first time."
Following Garner's progress from afar, David Moyes would have been bursting with pride. The Everton boss takes great pleasure from shepherding his players into international football and largely sees the call-ups as opportunities for them to extend their development - chances to embrace rather than distractions to fear.
Moyes has been pushing for Garner to earn a senior selection for months, though when pulling him out of midfield to cover longstanding problems at full-back, there have been times when it was unclear whether the former Manchester United youngster's case was being helped or hindered.
With his first call-up coming in the aftermath of an injury to Reece James, a leading candidate for the right-back spot at the World Cup, it may well have helped him. Tuchel will see value in the versatility of a player who led the England Under-21s to the 2023 European Championship while playing on the right of the defence.
There can be little doubt Tuchel has been impressed by Garner's performances in his favoured position, though. The former Chelsea manager has been in the stands for some of the best displays in a season that has seen him emerge as a trusted Moyes lieutenant.
Garner was at the heart of the midfield for landmark wins at Manchester United and Aston Villa, repeatedly rising to the challenge when Everton have entered games as the underdog.
It is not just his performances in big matches - the most recent his superb display in the victory over Chelsea last week - that have impressed Moyes and others.
Two of his best showings came in the wins over another former club, Nottingham Forest, where he outshone other England hopefuls including Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.
His match-winning efforts led a depleted Blues squad to a valuable three points at the City Ground over the festive season, with Garner opening the scoring before providing a stunning assist for Thierno Barry to seal the win.
His role was more understated for England on Friday night but his impact did not go unnoticed by Tuchel, who compared him to Valverde - an all-round talent who scored a hat-trick for Madrid to knock Manchester City out of the Champions League this month.
Garner's aim is now to play a role in Tuesday's friendly with Japan, the final friendly before Tuchel will select his World Cup squad and one in which the manager is set to welcome back several regulars of his through the qualification campaign.
Of Garner's debut, which was a PR boost for a progressing Everton team that can now show a call-up is possible by impressing at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Tuchel said: "I am very happy, he is our mini-Valverde. He is getting there and he played very, very good, I was quite sure that he would play good because he has this natural confidence and he is very physical, he won a lot of balls, I think there are some situations when he can be a little bit more open in the body positions and drive through midfield with a little bit more confidence.
"I think in the last 10 minutes of the first half he was involved in some ball losses that cost us a bit of confidence but overall I was very impressed with the way he trained and the way he behaved and the way he played."