Garner: “I Need To Knuckle Down”

James Garner says he is trying to learn as fast as possible and work overtime on the training field to ensure his adjustment to life in the Championship continues.

The technically-gifted midfielder on loan from Manchester United has got exactly the sort of experience United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær was hoping for when he sent the teenager to Vicarage Road for the whole campaign. He has played 18 times against a range of opponents and an assortment of styles and is striving to repeat the season-high display he produced in the 3-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers.

“I wouldn't say I've been at my best lately,” he said in an interview to be aired on Hive Live tonight. “The games have been tough, there have been lots of long balls, second balls, teams with big strikers, tall, aggressive players and lots of set-pieces. I knew that was very important in the Championship and it's something I need to continue to work on. Also with my attacking set-pieces. The manager put me on set-pieces, on corners, on free-kicks so I need to knuckle down and start putting them on the money.”

Garner showed he can put his foot in against Bournemouth and Preston, particularly in the first half of that recent 4-1 home win. It is a side of the game the midfield schemer enjoys.

“I've got to do the dirty side,” he said. “In the majority of games, you've got to do the dirty side first and the football comes out second. It's about weathering that storm for 15 to 20 minutes and then letting our quality come through. I feel that's in me. I always played with older, bigger and stronger players in the youth teams. I was playing as a six doing the dirty work. I'm not scared of it, I love doing it. It's not all about assisting and scoring.”

Garner's technical ability might be required more than his physicality tonight when a smooth-passing Brentford side visit Vicarage Road in a game that pitches fourth against sixth.

“I expect them to come out on the front foot,” he said. “They are a good team and they were unlucky not to get promoted last season. They have top players and they have the top striker in the league [in Ivan Toney]. They will come all guns blazing. It's definitely the responsbilty of the midfielders [to help shackle Toney]. He likes to run in behind and come to feet so, if we can help screen the ball and help out when the ball goes wide, it will be a real help to the defenders.”