Garner crucial for Everton's European push

[Getty Images] James Garner's consistent displays last season earned him a first England cap in a friendly against Uruguay in March. He produced a man-of-the-match performance, topping the game for tackles and chances created. After the match, England manager Thomas Tuchel compared him with Uruguay and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. "He's our mini Valverde," said Tuchel. "He played very, very good. I was quite sure that he will play good because he has this natural confidence and he's just very physical. He won a lot of balls." Garner missed out on a place in England's World Cup squad, but those physical attributes could result in more caps in the near future. He covered the most ground of any Premier League player last season - and 6km more than England midfielder Elliot Anderson - while also topping the overall rankings for tackles and interceptions. [BBC] Garner signed a new Everton deal in January, keeping him at the club until 2030, but that did not stop a £65m bid from Chelsea on deadline day this summer, which was rejected by Everton - an important decision given that Garner's versatility is likely to be crucial to a threadbare squad this season. Everton can currently call on only 17 fit senior outfield players, with Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl sidelined because of injury, meaning gaps may have to be plugged throughout the campaign. Garner has played at right-back and left-back for Everton in addition to his usual central midfield role. He also played at right-back when England Under-21s won the European Championship three years ago, while David Moyes has said he can operate as a number eight or six – a valuable commodity after losing 254 Premier League appearances in the guise of departed midfielder Idrissa Gueye this summer. If Everton are to push back towards European football this season, Garner may well be their most important asset.