Former Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest striker Glenn Murray believes Manchester United youngster James Garner would be in with a chance of breaking into the current first-team squad if he was not on loan at the City Ground.
Murray made the admission ahead of watching Garner and Forest bow out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage to Liverpool on Sunday evening. Diogo Jota netted the only goal of the game to seal a slender 1-0 win for the Premier League giants, securing them a semi-final showdown with Manchester City.
Forest, however, were excellent and had enough chances to win the game. Having beaten Arsenal and Leicester City on their way to the last eight, the Championship club had every right to fancy their chances of beating Jurgen Klopp's side.
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United loanee Garner, partnered with Ryan Yates, was excellent in midfield once again, proving that he does have what it takes to compete with the very best that the Premier League has to offer. He has excelled at Forest this term and no shortage of United supporters are hoping to see him in and around the first-team squad at Old Trafford next term.
But for former Forest man Murray, who played for the club last season, Garner could have been under consideration for United right now had he not been sent out on loan. United have struggled in midfield all season whilst Garner has excelled in the league below.
"James is a box-to-box midfielder, he is a bit of a throwback," Murray told LFCTV. "He's got a great delivery in the box, good passing range and he doesn't shirk away from the other side of it, which is the defending.
"He's a bit of a complete midfielder. I think if he was at Manchester United at the moment he might have got a sniff around the first team."
Although Garner, as reported by the Manchester Evening News last month, is targeting becoming a first-team regular at Old Trafford next season, it will all rest on who becomes the club's next permanent manager. If he is not granted that wish, however, Murray believes he could thrive if sent out on loan to a Premier League club.
Murray added: "I am sure that next year if he is not part of the Manchester United first-team squad he will go on loan to a bigger, better team, possibly a Premier League team. It's just about him progressing for Manchester United on loan at Nottingham Forest."
Garner, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the City Ground, joined Forest for the 2021/22 season back in August. Playing a key role in their sensational turnaround under boss Steve Cooper, he has racked up 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and claiming six assists.
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