James Garner drops four-word message on social media amid Everton injury struggles

Everton’s injury problems this season have been unparalleled, having gone without some of their most important players since before the campaign even got underway.

Even those who have been available have suffered, with reports claiming that James Tarkowski has fought through back and glute issues for months now.

Meanwhile, Jarrad Branthwaite has managed just a sole appearance in the Premier League, as arguably their best player the year prior.

Naturally, time has healed some of their biggest absentees, and Sean Dyche’s squad is starting to look fuller and stronger at last.

However, he is now without one of his favoured players, as James Garner breaks his silence on his latest setback.

James Garner reacts after latest injury

Garner has not had the easiest of rides since moving to Goodison Park, with his very first campaign in the Premier League marred by injury.

In fact, between November 2022 and April 2023, a back issue kept him consistently out of action.

He made up for lost time with his consistent presence last season, but now, according to Dyche, he is right back where he started.

The Everton manager spoke about this new back issue: ‘It is a different thing. I don’t know the exact science of it but I think it is just more wear and tear.

‘We are just getting a view on it now to see how quickly it is going to settle down. It has been an initial two weeks or so from when he first felt it and we should get a review over the next few days on which way we should treat it.’

Fortunately, Garner has provided a promising update on his social media, picturing himself back in the gym with the caption: ‘Here we go again’.

Everton will miss James Garner in the midfield

Whilst Dyche seems to have settled on the pairing of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gana Gueye in the midfield, he will miss Garner.

After all, whilst the aforementioned duo offer unbridled energy, the latter combines that with a far more creative skillset that the Toffees do miss at times.

And, perhaps more importantly, at just 23 years old he is the future of this football club.

Gueye and Doucoure are 35 and 31 respectively, and both of their contracts expire this coming summer.

Last season, Garner played 37 times for the Toffees in the Premier League, and was a combative presence in the engine room.

However, he added 1.2 key passes per game to his 4.6 ball recoveries and 2.2 tackles per game to make himself undroppable for the Everton manager, via Sofascore.

Also, his 83% pass accuracy was only bettered by Amadou Onana and Gueye, the latter of which could only manage 0.6 key passes per game.

The pool of midfielders at Dyche’s disposal is a relatively strong one, but Garner’s absence will hit hard. Hopefully he can overcome this latest setback to put himself back into contention soon.