Nottingham Forest loanee James Garner thinks he has done enough to prove any doubters wrong after his spell at the City Ground.
Garner, 21, has spent the past 18 months on Trentside having first signed on-loan in January 2021, a signing under then-Forest boss Chris Hughton.
This season he has continued to provide brilliant performances, contributing four goals and eight assists in the Championship under Cooper this year.
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Garner has been linked with another loan spell with the Reds following their promotion to the Premier League, although that claim has been questioned by the midfielder's agent Steven Beck. The midfielder has also established himself as a more regular option in Lee Carsley's England Under-21 squad. Having made his Young Lions debut back in September 2021, he has featured in seven of the Under-21s' eleven fixtures since.
After playing 74 minutes of the Young Lions' 2-1 defeat to Slovenia at Huddersfield Town's John Smiths Stadium - where he was booed by some sections of the home support - Garner said he hopes he has proved wrong those who raised his physicality as an issue.
He said: "I think I've come on leaps and bounds this season. I've played a lot of games, fifty plus I think.
"I have developed a lot physically which was the question asked of me - whether I am physically ready. I've shown that I'm physically ready to play."
He added: "Before I went on loan there were questions about whether I am physically read to compete and play first-team football.
"I believe I've shown that this season not only by playing a lot of games but by how I've held my own in a tough league."
