The assessment of the debutant was delivered by Thomas Tuchel in the immediate aftermath of England’s friendly draw with Uruguay.

“James Garner is our mini-Valverde,” the national manager told reporters on Friday evening. “He’s getting there, and he played very well. I was quite sure he would play well because he has this natural confidence; he is very physical, won a lot of balls. In some situations, he could be more open in his body position and drive more with a bit more confidence.

“But he was very impressive with how he trained this week and how he played tonight.”

Any positive comparison with Real Madrid’s midfield star Federico Valverde, the scorer of Uruguay’s late equaliser from the penalty spot at Wembley, will sit well with Garner. Of England’s new faces on the night, he was one of the few who made a real impression. He flung over a cross inside the first 80 seconds of his senior international career, delivered wickedly from set pieces, and pounced more than once to regain possession in midfield.

His involvement extended to 69 minutes before he was replaced. The outing in midfield had been impressive. That he offers Tuchel an option at full-back, too, will stand him in good stead as the England coach considers the 26-man squad he will take to the United States in a couple of months for the World Cup. Garner’s adaptability will work in his favour.

But while he is new to this scene, his journey has been lengthy. Now it is one from which he is reaping the rewards.

James Garner talks to the media at St George’s Park last week (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

“One thousand per cent, this has been a breakthrough season for me,” Garner said on Tuesday during his first press conference as a senior England player.

The numbers back that up. The Everton midfielder has always brought energy and technical ability, particularly from set pieces, but has added defensive work rate this year.

Garner is second in the Premier League both for tackles and interceptions behind Tottenham’s Joao Palhinha and Moises Caicedo of Chelsea respectively. He sits seventh in possession regains. Of the top 20 players for ground duels attempted so far this season, he has the highest success rate. He has coupled that with six assists, including three from set pieces, and two goals.

Versatility has no doubt aided Garner’s cause.

He started the campaign filling in at left-back for Everton. More recently, he has played on the other defensive flank, a role he played for England during their Under-21 European Championship win in 2023.

There has been a school of thought at Everton that the 25-year-old’s right-back performances alone should have been enough to put him in England contention, while he has also had stints at wing-back and on the right wing during his four seasons on Merseyside. Yet it is in his favoured central-midfield role that he has really excelled.

Everton manager David Moyes has regularly championed Garner’s claims this season, listing him as one of the form players in his position in the country. Games against Elliot Anderson’s Nottingham Forest, among others, have highlighted his ability to mix it with England’s best, with Garner delivering standout displays in two Everton wins.

James Garner has enjoyed a fine season for Everton (George Wood/Getty Images)

Moyes labelled him the “best player on the pitch” after the recent 3-0 victory against Chelsea. It was from Garner’s defence-splitting pass — the kind he has always had in his locker but wanted to produce more often — that Beto opened the scoring in that game.

Barely 24 hours earlier, he had been informed by Tuchel of his call-up. First came the initial text to schedule a FaceTime meeting, then the good news over a call. The expectation at Everton in recent months had been that Garner would make the March squad, with Tuchel having made regular checks on the player.

On his way to training the next day, Garner informed his family of the big news.

A special gold version of the traditional commemorative cap given to international players, to mark his role in that 2023 Euros success, was waiting when he arrived at England camp early this week.

Speaking to journalists after that Chelsea win just over a week ago, Garner admitted that he had not considered England selection to be a possibility at the start of the season. But he had targeted a big campaign, believing that he had much more to show. The challenge now is to keep on going.

Everton have seen a different Garner on and off the pitch this season. He has grown in stature and influence, and it has been noted that he is now starting to put his hand up more regularly for roles, such as media appearances, in the manner befitting a senior player.

“Since I signed, I have had some unlucky spells with two back injuries, and I was out for a long time,” he said on Tuesday. “We had been fighting in the relegation zone, so it has been tough for me to showcase what I can do.

“This fresh season, new stadium, manager and (with) a year left on my contract (Garner went on to sign a new deal keeping him at Everton until 2030 in January), I knew I had to showcase my talents. I set high standards for myself and in the first three seasons, I knew I wasn’t at the level I needed to be. I know there are more levels to go.”

Garner’s ability has never really been in doubt, but it has taken time to get to this stage.

Born on the Wirral, across the River Mersey from Liverpool, he was an England age-group regular as a youth and a well-regarded member of Manchester United’s academy.

“He had great attributes as a footballer and a potential leader,” Eamon Mulvey, one of his early academy coaches, told The Athletic in 2023. “We’d allow them to problem-solve, and his decision-making and understanding were excellent. As he got older, he’d also help others with their jobs. He was quiet but would always make himself heard.

Garner holds his hands up after scoring against former club Nottingham Forest in December (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“I’ve been there over 20 years and he was one of the best travellers. He was always there, digging in and encouraging team-mates, and he had a hunger about him. That’s something you look for and think you’d want him there when your backs are against the wall.”

Garner arrived at United as a “gangly defender”, according to Mulvey, but comparisons were later drawn with club legend Michael Carrick and Real Madrid’s Spain international Isco, due to his ability on the ball.

“I really like when he trains with us or (when I’m) watching the under-23 games, because you can see he understands the game. He makes the right decisions. He is a proper player, and I really like him,” then United forward Juan Mata told The Athletic in 2019.

“Isco is another example of this type of player. He is this talented player and creative soul, if you want to call it that — he creates.”

What stood out for his England Under-18 head coach Neil Dewsnip, meanwhile, were Garner’s leadership and ability to take on instructions. Garner captained his country at that level.

“We were in Dubai at a tournament,” Dewsnip explained to The Athletic in 2023. “At the FA, we’d use a Subbuteo pitch and players as part of our game preparation. We’d given a presentation to the group and James got the lads around the table off his own bat, and showed it visually.

“Nobody had told him to do it, and he nailed every bit of information we’d passed on. That was impressive for a 17-year-old.”

A successful two-year loan stint at Forest piqued Everton’s interest. In a 2022 interview, his then fellow Forest midfielder Jack Colback said it was “obscene how good he can be”.

Uruguay’s Mathias Olivera challenges James Garner at Wembley (Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)

Garner would have been interested in a return to the City Ground after helping them earn Premier League promotion in 2022 but United delayed and Forest moved on to alternative targets.

When United’s then manager Erik ten Hag decided in that pre-season that Garner would not be part of his immediate plans, Everton, Leicester City and Southampton were among the clubs to submit bids. Talks with their manager at the time Frank Lampard and the idea of a return home to Merseyside swung it Everton’s way and an initial £9million deal, rising to £15m if all clauses are met, was struck.

One of the things that had stood out to Everton scouts, beyond Garner’s obvious quality in possession, was his willingness to run back towards his own goal quicker and harder than anyone else.

Nearly four years on, Garner has an England debut under his belt and is now targeting a World Cup place.

“I think it’s a bit of a cliché but it really is every little boy’s dream, and it’s finally come,” he said after his star turn in Everton’s win over Chelsea, before his England call. “It’s been quite a crazy week, but I’m really happy.

“I don’t see why not (earn a spot in England’s World Cup squad). I think it’s a possibility but, at the same time, I’ve just got to keep on focusing on what I’m doing.

“If I keep on playing like that, then who knows?”.