How Manchester United talent James Garner has 'found another level' for Nottingham Forest

For James Garner, expectations were high when he returned to Nottingham Forest for a second loan spell in the summer.

After quickly impressing in the second half of last season, the Manchester United midfielder had set a particularly high bar.

This term - initially at least - was a bit more of a grind for the 20-year-old.

But boss Steve Cooper can pinpoint almost the exact moment things changed for Garner.

Reading away, November 20. On the face of it, a frustrating 1-1 draw which left the visitors ruing not taking all three points.

For Garner, however, it was a turning point.

He had found himself in and out of the starting XI before then amid a slow start to the campaign.

However, he came off the bench against the Royals and has never looked back - rediscovering the form he showed last term, and then some.

“Jimmy has been a really strong performer for us, probably since he came on against Reading,” Cooper told NottinghamshireLive.

“He came on in the Reading game away from home and had a really good impact, nearly scored and set up a great chance (for Lewis Grabban).

“Since then, I think he’s found another level.

“What’s important for him - and we’ve spoken about this - is that he doesn’t drop any standards and continues to improve.

“The only way to do that is by continuing to perform well in the next game, and do even better.

“He’s in a good place, Jimmy. But he’s got to work even harder to, at minimum, stay where he is, but hopefully keep improving.

“That will be good for everyone, if he does.”

Garner has been in every starting XI for the Reds since that Reading game, and scored his second goal of the season in last Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers.

He has also shown he is capable of playing in different