Jesse Lingard sends 2-word message to Everton ace after first day on int'l duty

Everton star James Garner was congratulated by Jesse Lingard and others after enjoying a “good first day” on England duty.

Garner has earned a maiden call-up to the England senior squad on the back of his superb form for Everton throughout the 2025-26 campaign.

The versatile midfielder looks set to feature against Uruguay on Friday in the first of England’s friendlies, before the Three Lions take on Japan – also at Wembley – next Tuesday.

It marks an impressive personal milestone for Garner, who is now in with a shot at making it to this summer’s World Cup.

Toffees fans will be desperate Garner is fit and available for Everton’s clash with Brentford upon the return of club action, but the 25-year-old’s focus right now is on England.

Jesse Lingard and Tim Iroegbunam react to James Garner’s Instagram post

Garner will already know some of the England squad, not least team-mate Jordan Pickford and former colleague Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The former Manchester United ace took to Instagram on Tuesday evening, following his first training session with the Three Lions, to post: “Good first day.”

Lingard, who Garner will know from their Manchester United days, replied with “fully deserved”, along with a flame emoji.

Tim Iroegbunam, meanwhile, posted a couple of flame emojis as his own way of showing his personal backing to Garner.

Garner is one of two uncapped senior players in the England squad, along with Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Garner admits to ‘tough’ times at Everton

Garner being included in England’s World Cup squad would be quite the achievement when you consider how far out of the plans he would have been just a year ago.

Indeed, he admitted as much when speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the England camp.

Garner said his first three years on Merseyside have proved “tough to really showcase what I can do”, given the Toffees have spent most of that time in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

That has not been the case this season, however, and Garner is now thriving in an Everton team on the up under David Moyes.

The best news of all is that Garner signed a new contract earlier this year that keeps him tied down at Hill Dickinson Stadium until June 2030, so fingers crossed he continues to get better and better.

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