Everton manager Frank Lampard has insisted that former Manchester United midfielder James Garner is ready to feature for the Merseyside club.
Garner has not played a single minute of football since joining the Toffees from the Reds in the summer transfer window, with the 21-year-old only making the bench on four occasions so far this term. The midfielder, who left United in search of first-team football, arrived at Goodison Park in a deal that could eventually be worth up to £15million.
The youngster had been with the Reds since under-8 level, but was keen to move away from Old Trafford to get regular minutes under his belt. However, he has been unable to break into the Everton side and is currently behind Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi in the midfield pecking order.
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While Garner is yet to feature for his new side, Toffees boss Lampard has claimed that the 21-year-old is now up to speed and ready to go after a difficult start to his career on Merseyside.
Speaking in Friday’s pre-match press conference, Lampard said: "James is ready, he’s completely ready. When he came he was very honest, he wasn’t fit for the Liverpool game in terms of being 100 per cent match-fit.
"So we had to work him, he went away with the under-21s and played a game and now he’s completely ready. He’s ready to go, he’s training and I’m excited to see him playing and get him in the team."
Garner made his first-team debut for United in February 2019 at the age of 17, coming on as a substitute against Crystal Palace. He was sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest last season, helping them to secure promotion to the Premier League after Steve Cooper's side won the Championship play-off final.
However, the midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements by Reds manager Erik ten Hag on his return to Old Trafford in the summer.
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