‘Man Utd’s best player’ – Forest fans hail James Garner after top display
Manchester United loanee James Garner continued to enhance his reputation with an impressive performance in Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup win over Huddersfield.
Garner, who came through United’s academy, has spent the last 14 months on loan at Forest in order to get more first-team experience.
He’s established himself as a fan favourite at the City Ground and has even been compared to Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso.
The 20-year-old midfielder has recently been linked with moves to Leeds and Southampton but is reportedly set to spend 2022-23 back at Old Trafford.
He’s helped put Forest back in the Championship play-off picture and has also been a key part of their FA Cup run, producing great performances against Arsenal and Leicester City.
After Huddersfield took an early lead against Forest in the fifth round, Garner dissected their defence with a brilliant through ball in the 28th minute. While Huddersfield dealt with the initial danger, Sam Surridge was on hand to sweep the ball home and level the scores.
The United loanee then set up the winning goal eight minutes later, delivering a brilliant free-kick that was headed home by Ryan Yates. Garner has now registered two goals and four assists in his last eight appearances for Forest.
Alongside his assist against Huddersfield, he also won all of his ground and aerial duels, made two tackles, completed 40 accurate passes and wasn’t dribbled past.
Forest are now through to the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time since 1996 and will come up against Premier League side Liverpool.
“Curtis Jones might play but you’ve got to say that James Garner will fancy himself as being as good as him,” former Forest midfielder Steve Hodge told BBC Radio Nottingham after the game.
“Being on loan from Manchester United, he’ll be desperate to play.”
We’ve rounded up a number of tweets from Forest fans that were impressed by his display.
That’s funny, I thought all of Garner’s key passes only came from set pieces 🤔🤔🤔 chances are we won’t see him beyond this season, so just enjoy the most naturally talented central midfielder we’ve had at the club since Aaron Ramsey in 2010 while we still have him #nffc https://t.co/1WECfItR65
— CB (@Chris78901) March 8, 2022
I don’t think I’ll ever get over how talented Jimmy Garner is. #NFFC
— Curtis (@CurtisCharlo) March 7, 2022
We’re blessed to have Garner when he’s United’s best midfielder #nffc #mufc
— Jack Upton (@uptonjack47) March 7, 2022
James Garner is Man Uniteds best player and Ryan Yates is the best midfielder in the worlddddd #nffc pic.twitter.com/eYFqCBH6hp
— Jared (@jared_M1) March 7, 2022
James Garner is absolute levels above Mctominay, don’t even try tell me different #NFFC #MUFC
— Rob Brealey (@rob_brealey) March 7, 2022
I tell you what, James Garner gets through some miles, non stop running every single game.What a player #nffc
— Jack (@JackadelicNFFC) March 7, 2022
Well done boys. Fair play Yates for MOTM but that belongs to Garner tonight. He was a different gravy. #NFFCvsHTAFC #NFFC
— Nooks (@MarkKerfoot1) March 7, 2022
Ryan Yates MoM, but how good was James Garner? Controlled the game throughout 👌 #nffc
— Aneil Singh (@AneilSingh10) March 7, 2022
James Garner is playing at a totally different level at the minute. What a player #nffc
— Jonno (@J_reilly31) March 7, 2022
James Garner running the show #NFFC
— ReissNFFC (@ReissNFFC) March 7, 2022
The fact we not only lose Spence if we don’t go up but we lose garner as well is heartbreaking and sickening🥲 #nffc
— Brandon (@BrandonnNFFC) March 7, 2022
Pirlo has magnets of James Garner on his fridge #nffc
— Ryan Towle (@ryantowle_) March 7, 2022
If the first couple of cup games were all about Johnson and Spence, this is Garner's game tonight.
More evidence of Cook's ability to improve players. Garner was good last season, but never this good. #nffc
— Phil Jones (@JoneseyP5) March 7, 2022
Garner gets better and better every week.. the kid is pure quality, lad pings it for dun
Surridge is a little workhorse, here, there, everywhere, the lad has great ball control as well, but be very intrigued to see him in the 10 role behind KD,
Is Zink playing? Very quiet #nffc
— Tuppa (@jaleo52) March 7, 2022
He was smooth today. Garner is a delight to watch. #nffc
— Oregon Mtn Guy (@ORMtnGuy) March 8, 2022
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