Manchester United have the perfect chance to trial their new midfielder

"James Garner is a Michael Carrick, but 20 years younger," Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cooed. The following evening, a 17-year-old Garner emerged for his Manchester United debut at Crystal Palace.

Garner's last appearance for United was in December 2019 and going more than two years without playing for the club is usually a death knell for an academy player. The next time Garner, on loan at Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season, could play in a competitive match for his parent club it would be nearer three years.

Yet there is more of a buzz about Garner now than when he was a teenager. The Birkenhead-born midfielder turned 21 last month and his polished performances in front of terrestrial broadcasters against the FA Cup's record winners, holders and semi-finalists have encouraged United supporters seeking panacea for the team's midfield malaise.

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Garner's pass for Ryan Yates in the luckless quarter-final loss to Liverpool matched any action by a United midfielder all season. Garner was around 40 yards from goal, with Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino breathing down his neck and slightly stretching for Jack Colback's pass yet threaded the ball immediately through the entire Liverpool defence.

The failure of the craven referee Craig Pawson and Video Assistant Referee to award Yates a penalty overshadowed Garner's lock-picking. ITV, the broadcasters, named Joe Worrall the man of the match but Forest's Twitter account chose Garner. An admiring Jurgen Klopp embraced Garner on the pitch at full-time.

Garner is already a veteran of two United pre-season tours and three loan spells at Championship clubs but remains a shy speaker. Forest put up