Teddy Sheringham delivers verdict on Manchester United youngsters and makes James Garner claim

Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham believes James Garner will be determined to force his way into the first-team fold under Erik ten Hag next season.

Garner, who is 21, has spent this season on loan at Championship side Nottingham Forest and played a formidable role in their push for promotion to the Premier League. The Midlands outfit progressed to the Championship play-off final on Tuesday night, beating Sheffield United on penalties, meaning they are now just one win away from ending their 23-year absence from the top-flight.

Forest were bottom of the table after eight games but have enjoyed a remarkable journey ever since Steve Cooper was appointed manager in September. They finished the regular campaign in fourth, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion.

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Their progress under Cooper has been littered with impressive individual performances, and Garner has played his part on no shortage of occasions, racking up 47 appearances, scoring three goals and grabbing nine assists along the way. For Sheringham, who played for Forest himself, the midfielder should fancy his chances of becoming a regular at Old Trafford next term.

"I have not seen enough of him to comment on a wide-scale," Sheringham told the Manchester Evening News. "I know he is one of the reasons why Nottingham Forest are doing so well.

"The manager [Cooper] has obviously been in top form at Forest and he is getting the best out of everyone who is playing at the moment, and James is playing an important part in midfield. He will come back to the club at the end of the season and will be itching to get into the first-team.

"That is what you want,