Former Manchester United midfielder James Garner has opened up on his "disappointing" departure from the club, as the Everton midfielder claimed that he did not want to "stagnate" at Old Trafford.
Garner returned to United over the summer, after his second spell on loan at Nottingham Forest came to an end. The academy graduate impressed during his time at the City Ground as he helped Forest secure promotion to the Premier League, making 41 Championship appearances during the successful campaign.
Many felt as though Garner had earned the right to be handed a chance at Old Trafford this season, with his performances at Forest playing a huge part in their promotion push.
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Despite Erik ten Hag's initial desperation to bolster his midfield ranks, with the arrivals of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, Garner was deemed surplus to requirements. Although there was some optimism that the midfielder would feature for the club this season after being selected for the Reds' pre-season tour, an injury training in the first session meant that the former Forest loanee only played for 23 minutes while in Thailand and Australia.
Garner has now opened up on his departure from the club, saying that he did not want to stay at United just to make up the numbers in training.
He told The Times : "In the moment it is very disappointing. That was the club that I trained with five times a week for years and years and years, that I made my debut with.
"But I didn't want to stagnate. I didn't want to stay there really and when they said I could leave also, I was in agreement with that. I just think it all made sense. I had two good seasons on loan and returned to United in the summer.
"I know in myself I wouldn't have played if I had stayed. I knew it was the perfect time now, at 21, to move on and try and stake my claim somewhere else and hopefully find a home, which I have now in Everton.
"Where I am at in my career now, I didn't just want to be an extra body or I didn't want to just be a spare player in training. Last season, I was one of the main players in Forest's team and that is what I want to be. I don't want to be just another player who is there for numbers in training. I want to be a main part of the team whether that is a starter or coming off the bench."
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