Manchester United academy graduate James Garner is aiming for a chance in the first team at Old Trafford this season under Erik ten Hag.
Garner showed plenty of promise and developed his game on loan at Nottingham Forest last season. The 21-year-old impressed in the Championship as Steve Cooper's side won promotion to the Premier League.
The England U21 international also showcased his talents against top flight opposition during Forest's FA Cup run. Following his inclusion in United's pre-season tour being hampered by injury, Garner is still hopeful of breaking into the first team under the new boss.
ALSO READ: United fans make Garner demand
He told PA News Agency: "I had a really good season last season – full of confidence, full of experience. The experience I didn’t have, I feel that now I do have.
"I played in some big pressure games and I just think it’s a new and improved me. It was almost as perfect a loan experience that I could possibly have had.
" I played pretty much every single game, played well and ended up winning promotion. For me, it’s probably the perfect loan.
"However, for me now because I’ve played two seasons back-to-back, where I’ve been playing games non-stop, I don’t really want to stop that. I want to play week in, week out.
"That is of course what I want to do. I’m not too sure but pre-season has been good so far and, like I said, hopefully in the next two, three weeks – we’ve still got games left – I can show what I can do."
United play Atletico Madrid this Saturday and Rayo Vallecano on Sunday before starting their Premier League campaign a week later at home to Brighton and Hove Albion. And although Garner admitted he wants to spend this season at the Theatre of Dreams, he is not ruling out a temporary move away should he not receive the game time he deserves.
"I want to play for United. Of course that’s obviously my aim," Garner added.
"But I feel like if I’m not going to be playing as regularly as I would like to then I’m definitely open to going back on loan to a Premier League side. I feel like I’m a midfielder that can do pretty much everything.
"I feel like I can play in the six or eight role. Last season I played in the 10 role as well – I’m not saying that’s what I prefer, but I’m saying I can play in that position if needed – so I feel like I offer everything that a midfielder would need."
READ NEXT:
