James Garner, a midfielder for Everton, has been likened to Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde by England manager Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel praised Garner after his international debut against Uruguay in March, describing him as a "mini Valverde" due to their similar versatility in playing in central midfield, on the wing, or as a right-back. Valverde, known as "El Pajarito" during his early career, is often overlooked despite being considered one of the world’s top midfielders. Garner, who has taken inspiration from Valverde, is now aiming to make his mark on the international stage. Garner was recently called into the England squad for the Nations League fixtures after being left out of the World Cup squad. At the time, Tuchel chose Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo as backup midfielders to Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. Henderson made a brief appearance during the World Cup, while Mainoo did not play. Garner was informed of his exclusion by a "tough phone call" from Tuchel, which he described as a difficult but necessary decision. Garner was recalled for the Nations League after both Rice and Mainoo withdrew from the squad. He was on holiday in Turkey when he received the call from the Football Association, and he quickly returned to England to report to St George’s Park. Tuchel also made a last-minute call to Morgan Gibbs-White, who had been on holiday in Dubai and posted a lighthearted TikTok video as he returned to England. Garner began his career in the Manchester United academy, initially playing as a centre-half before transitioning to midfield. He attributes his tactical awareness to early exposure to football, including playing FIFA and watching matches. He joined Everton in 2022 after loan spells at Watford and Nottingham Forest, a move he believes was the right decision for his development. Garner also made a significant impact with England’s under-21 team, helping them win the European Championship in 2023 and being named in the tournament’s team of the tournament. Looking ahead, Garner is now focused on the Nations League fixtures, particularly the challenge of facing Spain. He acknowledges the difficulty of playing against top talents like Rodri but is determined to perform at his best for England.