James Garner, a rising star in English football, recently received a surprise call-up to the senior England squad. The 23-year-old midfielder, currently playing for Everton, has spoken about the players who inspired him during his youth. Among them was Nemanja Vidic, a former Manchester United and England center-back known for his leadership and defensive prowess. While Garner cites icons like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes as influences, he has often spoken of Vidic as his personal hero, drawn to his role as a defensive warrior on the pitch. Garner has emerged as a versatile player at Everton, capable of playing in multiple midfield roles. He is often deployed as a "single six," a lone defensive midfielder, but has also played in a pair with another midfielder or as a No 8, a more attacking role. His adaptability has extended to the flanks, with experience playing on the right side of midfield and even at right-back. He also stepped into a left-back role unexpectedly last season when Vitalii Mykolenko was injured, showing his willingness to take on new challenges. Garner left Manchester United in 2022, a decision he believes was crucial for his development. He noted that the club signed several midfielders after his departure, including Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, and Sofyan Amrabat. Despite the move, he has no regrets about returning to Merseyside, where he has since flourished. His breakthrough came with England’s Under-21 team, which won the European Championship in 2023—a moment he described as one of the best of his career. Garner’s first season at Everton was interrupted by a back injury, but he regained his form and confidence after the Under-21 success. Last season was his best, earning him Everton’s player-of-the-season award and his first two caps for England against Uruguay and Japan in March. After his debut, then-England manager Thomas Tuchel compared him to Fede Valverde, a compliment Garner appreciated. Though he missed the World Cup squad due to selection limits, he received another surprise call-up for the Nations League games after Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo withdrew. Garner had just arrived in Turkey for a holiday when he received the news, briefly staying in Bodrum before returning to England for the matches.