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  "path": "/2026/05/08/nicky-butt-tips-man-utd-sign-england-player-get-surprise-world-cup-call-up-28274939/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-08T21:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
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    "Everton",
    "Everton Transfer News",
    "Manchester United",
    "Manchester United Transfer News",
    "Nicky Butt",
    "Premier League",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
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    "Watford",
    "Nottingham Forest",
    "David Moyes",
    "final 26-man England squad",
    "Casemiro will leave the club",
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    "Paddy Power",
    "check our sport page",
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  "textContent": "Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt (Picture: Getty)\n\nNicky Butt can see Manchester United bringing James Garner back to Old Trafford after his impressive performances at Everton.\n\nGarner came through the United academy and had loans at Watford and Nottingham Forest before leaving the club to join Everton for £15million in 2022.\n\nThe versatile midfielder has grown to become a vital figure in David Moyes’s side this season, registering eight goal contributions to help give the Toffees a shot of qualifying for Europe.\n\nGarner’s impressive performances at club level also saw him rewarded with a first England call-up back in March, with the 25-year-old featuring in both matches against Uruguay and Japan.\n\nThis has raised the possibility that Garner could be named in the final 26-man England squad for the World Cup, which must be announced by May 30.\n\nUnited have made improving their midfield a key priority in the summer transfer window after confirmation that Casemiro will leave the club at the end of the season.\n\nAnd while Butt thinks a return this summer is unlikely, the former Red Devils midfielder insists that he wouldn’t be surprised if Garner ended up back at Old Trafford in the not-so-distant future.\n\n##  Get personalised football updates every day\n\nSign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.\n\n‘I don’t see why he couldn’t be back at United,’ Butt told Paddy Power. ‘He’s performing well, he’s playing for a big club with a big expectation with their crowd.\n\nJames Garner has enjoyed a superb season at Everton (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘Obviously they’re not expected to go and win the Premier League but they’re expected to win and they’ve got passionate support.\n\n‘So he plays under pressure every week, he knows Man United and yeah, he’s doing amazingly well now.\n\n‘He’s got to do it again next season, it’s a bit soon to go and pay big money for him now, but I’m confident he can go and do it.’\n\nGarner’s form this season has seen him called up to the Three Lions (Picture: Getty)\n\nButt, who helped oversee Garner’s development during his time in charge of United’s academy, added: ‘At the time Jimmy wasn’t at the level to burst into United and play regularly. It wasn’t working so quite rightly he moved on and kick-started his career.\n\n‘Jimmy is a bit like the player I was. Not the most talented but his drive and desire to get to the top is up there with anybody I’ve seen.’\n\nButt is confident that the Everton star will be with the Three Lions in North America this summer, where England will be looking to win their first men’s trophy since 1966.\n\n‘Jimmy Garner has done himself a massive, massive favour playing how he played,’ he added. ‘He’s been phenomenal this season. He’s got it all, he can pass through the lines, he can defend, he can tackle, he can sprint.\n\n‘He’s like a poorer man’s version of Gerrard. Not as good as Gerrard, but he’s in that mould, he can do everything as a modern day midfielder.\n\n‘He will definitely be going [to the World Cup] after that, he’s got his ticket on the plane.’\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Nicky Butt tips Man Utd to sign England player who could get surprise World Cup call-up"
}