James Garner reveals Nemanja Vidic was his boyhood hero
England call-up James Garner says he loved ex-Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic growing up, and recalls playing centre-back before his Everton versatility.
James Garner, the Everton midfielder who has been called up by England, says the player he admired most growing up was Nemanja Vidic, a centre-back.
Garner, from Birkenhead, named Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes among his boyhood favourites. A United academy graduate backing Vidic over Messi.
"Growing up I was always a centre-back," Garner said. "I'd be lying if I said [Lionel] Messi. As mad as it sounds - because obviously I came through at Manchester United - I used to love Nemanja Vidic. I used to love the No 15 and things like that. I've never actually said that: I used to love Vidic."
He played centre-back until his mid-teens. At the Nike Cup, when he was about 15, his side's defender was injured in the first game and Garner was in the middle of the back line.
At Everton he has since covered most of the pitch. He describes his role now as often a "single six", the lone defensive midfielder, though he has also played in a pair, as more of a No 8, on the right of midfield and at right-back. When Vitalii Mykolenko was ruled out at the start of last season, Garner was the unexpected choice to fill in at left-back.
If that range carries into international football, that versatility may give England's staff a midfielder who can cover several roles.
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