Garner backs Tuchel's Valverde comparison as he rejoins England

James Garner is not embarrassed by the loftiest of compliments. When Thomas Tuchel likened the Everton midfielder to Federico Valverde after his England debut against Uruguay in March, the 25-year-old took it as a badge of honour rather than a burden.

"It's a very good comparison," Garner says. "You wouldn't really call him a household name, would you? But players who have played the game – they know how good he is. I watch a lot of football. I watch all the Champions League games and he always stands out. So yeah, I would go as far as saying that he's underrated. In my opinion, he's one of the best midfielders in the world."

The Real Madrid man, nicknamed El Pajarito – the Little Bird – as a child, shares Garner's versatility: both prefer central midfield yet can slot in at right-back or on the wing, and both have a habit of flying under the radar. Garner, who can also operate in the centre of defence, admits his boyhood hero was a defender. "I've never actually said this but I used to love Nemanja Vidic," he reveals. "I used to love the No 15 and things like that. Then you grow up a little bit more, I became a midfielder and I used to love Lampard, Scholes and Gerrard."

Short holiday, quicker return

Garner's latest England involvement came at breakneck speed. He had just flown to Bodrum in Turkey for a holiday with his partner and was putting the key in his hotel room door when the Football Association called with a late summons. He flew home on Monday and reported to St George's Park on Tuesday.

"It was a very short holiday," he says with a smile. "I'm more than happy to be here now." Tuchel also drafted in Morgan Gibbs-White, who had just reached Dubai for a family break and posted a lighthearted TikTok miming Gotta Go My Own Way from High School Musical 2. Garner was unmoved. "No. That's not me."

Hunger after World Cup snub

The call-up repairs some of the disappointment of missing out on the summer's World Cup. Tuchel instead took Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo as midfield back-ups to Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson; Henderson managed six minutes as a substitute, Mainoo none at all. "It was a tough phone call [from Tuchel] because you don't know whether it's a yes or a no," Garner recalls. "He just said that he could only take a certain amount of players and I've missed out this time. I respect his decision and it just makes you hungrier."

This time Garner returns after the withdrawals of Rice and Mainoo, with Henderson overlooked on fitness grounds. Tuchel had already recalled Alex Scott and Myles Lewis-Skelly in his original selection and continues to leave Adam Wharton out. Anderson is the most established midfielder as England prepare to host Spain at Wembley on Saturday night, before away trips to Czechia and Croatia and a return to Wembley against Czechia.

From United exit to Everton statement

Garner, a product of the Manchester United academy where he played centre-half until 15, never saw a first-team path at Old Trafford. Loans to Watford and then Nottingham Forest preceded a £9m move to Everton in 2022, a deal that still rankles sections of the United support after the club signed Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. He has no regrets.

"It was the perfect thing for me to do – 1,000%," Garner says. "I didn't want to fizzle into the background and just sit on the bench. I wanted to go to a team where I felt like I had a chance to fight for my position. Do I have any regrets about leaving United? No, not really. I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Had I stayed I wouldn't have been where I am today so I am more than happy that I left."

His standing was cemented when he starred in England's under-21 European Championship triumph in 2023, named in the team of the tournament as a right-back and starting the final as Spain were beaten 1-0. A senior meeting with the same nation now looms, with Rodri – the Ballon d'Or winner – the ultimate midfield test. "Spain have got the Ballon d'Or winner in their midfield so to play against someone like that is the ultimate test. You want to go against the best and see how you fare."