Joyce: Loan star Garner looking Premier class

FOREST’S UNDER-18S LEAD COACH IS SURE MIDFIELDER WILL SHINE ON THE BIGGEST STAGE

MANCHESTER United loanee James Garner is being backed to enjoy a successful career in the Premier League after shining for Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

The 21-year-old midfielder has played a key role in Steve Cooper’s side this season as they prepare for the play-offs.

He’s provided four goals and eight assists in the league during a stellar campaign that saw the team finish fourth in the table.

Garner will return to his parent club in the summer when his loan ends and will get the chance to impress incoming manager Erik ten Hag in pre-season. If that happens, Forest’s chances of resigning the youngster may shrink drastically.

In any case the Birkenhead native’s prospects are extremely bright, according to Forest’s Under-18s lead coach Warren Joyce, who previously coached United’s Reserves for eight years. He’s seen up close what the player can do and believes that he is “destined” to play in the top flight.

“He’s done great, you’re delighted for the kid, he came in and was maybe not up to speed, but he’s got better and better, it’s a credit to the culture the manager instils in the football club,” Joyce told the Manchester Evening News.

“I think it’s helped him to see what Brennan Johnson, Joe Worrall, Ryan Yates do, how they conduct themselves. He’s bought into the culture the manager instils and the way they conduct themselves. There’s a vibrant group of young players there who are destined for the Premier League.”

Like just about every player at Forest, Garner struggled under Chris Hughton, but the hiring of Steve Cooper has both player and club flourish. Joyce believes that those hard times will ultimately benefit his career in the long run.

“You need some struggle to get better and to know what it feels like, to find out about yourself,” he said.

“He’ll know himself how much the manager has helped him here and how much he’s had to find the answers within himself to come through and play as well as he’s done and be involved in the type of football the first team have been playing here.

“It’s been really exciting to watch and it bodes well for his future.”