Man United: Garner scores incredible goal during U23 clash
Whenever Manchester United produce another fine academy talent, the youngsters have to face comparisons with the greats of yesteryear. Mason Greenwood has been dubbed the next Robin van Persie repeatedly throughout his short spell in the first team, Brandon Williams has been compared to Patrice Evra and many more throughout the years have had to suffer the same burden. James Garner, though, might be the next Michael Carrick.
They’re not our words. Instead, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted as such shortly before giving Garner his debut against Crystal Palace last season.
The teenager came off the bench at Selhurst Park that evening, keeping his composure as the Red Devils battled their way to all three points.
"I believe he's got the chance to have a great future," Solskjaer said at the time of the midfielder.
"He knows we believe in him, we've got great faith in him as the next Michael Carrick.
“I know he's young and I know it's not fair on kids to compare to great players like Michael was, but he's the same mould, he plays simple passes, plays through the lines."
United fans haven’t seen a lot of Garner. Not as much as both they and the player would ideally like.
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Fred was recently asked about Greenwood and Williams but, curiously, chose to offer his thoughts on Garner instead.
“They are great players,” he said when asked about both Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams.
“They are great players, with a lot of potential for the future.
“But what impresses me most is Jimmy Garner. Not because he is in the same position as me, but he is a player who has an impressive vision of the game, has a huge future for United.
“In addition to the impressive game vision, he always plays with his head up, has an impressive kick, an incredible pass.
Scott McTominay, too, name-checked Garner when asked to name the most talented young players on the club’s books.
“You see Di’Shon [Bernard], Largie [Ramazani], Jimmy [Garner], you see Mason [Greenwood], obviously, coming in and Mason’s on his way to being established,” he said.
“For me, it’s my responsibility – Marcus [Rashford], Jesse [Lingard], the more experienced ones like Juan [Mata], Nemanja [Matic], [Lee] Granty, for example – we’ve got to take a responsibility now to push these younger boys and get them up to a level where it’s justifiable that they’ve reached their potential.
“For everyone at the football club, that’s the primary goal as well. It’s the same for myself: I’m getting pushed by the coaching staff every single day.”
United are likely to give Garner a loan spell at the end of the season.
But his performances at youth level suggest he’s got what it takes to live up to Carrick comparisons at Old Trafford one day.