Warren Joyce has backed James Garner for a successful Premier League career after seeing at close quarters how the Manchester United loanee has shone in the Championship.
Former United coach Joyce now works for Nottingham Forest, where Garner has thrived this season under the tutelage of first-team boss Steve Cooper.
The 21-year-old midfielder has become a key component in the Forest side that surged up the table following Cooper's appointment on September 21, only missing out on automatic promotion in the final week of the season.
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Forest will now have to navigate the play-offs if they are to earn promotion, but Cooper has built a young side with several players set for a chance in the Premier League, one way or another.
Garner is among that number and on his return to his parent club this summer he will get a chance to impress new boss Erik ten Hag and looks certain to be included in the squad for the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.
Joyce, who spent eight years at United, is now in charge of Forest's Under-18s but he's worked closely with the senior set-up as well and has been impressed with Garner.
"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 instills and the way they conduct themselves.
"There’s a vibrant group of young players there who are destined for the Premier League."
Garner spent the second half of last season at the City Ground and returned to the club this summer, but he found it difficult under Chris Hughton as Forest had a disastrous start to the season.
Cooper's appointment was a crucial moment for Garner, with the pair having worked together for England Under-17s previously, where Garner was Cooper's captain.
The midfielder has now started every league and cup game since November 23 - a run of 32 straight games - and he will be vital in the play-off battle, which begins with a semi-final against Sheffield United.
But the fact Garner has had to overcome some difficulties this season will stand him in good stead for the future, according to Joyce.
"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."
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