Manchester United midfielder James Garner helped Nottingham Forest to end a 23-year wait for a return to the Premier League on Sunday.
The 21-year-old played the full game at Wembley Stadium as his loan club triumphed 1-0 over Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final to secure promotion back to English football’s top flight.
Garner also had a key role in the decisive goal, putting a dangerous ball into the box that Terriers defender Levi Colwill could only turn into his own net.
He posted:
“Premier league babyyyyyyyyyy!!”
Several of Garner’s United team-mates, from senior and Academy level, extended their congratulations to the youngster on the post too, including Anthony Elanga, Fred, Teden Mengi and Brandon Williams.
The win ensures the perfect ending to the midfielder’s second temporary move to the Nottinghamshire club.
Garner was a mainstay in Steve Cooper’s side throughout the season, playing one shy of 50 competitive matches for the Tricky Trees across the Championship, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
In those appearances, the young Red netted four goals and was able to provide 10 assists as he gained further invaluable experience at senior level and we can now look forward to a first meeting with Forest since 1999.
Unfortunately, it was not to be a perfect weekend for United at Wembley, as on-loan Red Nathan Bishop tasted defeat with Mansfield Town in the League Two play-off final on Saturday.
The Stags were beaten 3-0 in the capital, following goals from Kian Harratt, ex-Old Trafford striker James Wilson and Mal Benning.
A first-half red card for Oliver Hawkins while already two goals down meant it was an uphill task for much of the afternoon for Mansfield, who could never really gain a proper foothold in the contest.
Important stops that Bishop produced to deny Wilson and Benning adding to the scoring late in the opening period were therefore in vain, but young Nathan can hold his head high following a commendable campaign.
Our goalkeeper made 53 appearances across all competitions while spending the 2021/22 season at the One Call Stadium, registering 16 clean sheets in total.
Like Garner, the 22-year-old is now also set to return to Manchester prior to the new term.
In South America, United’s Andreas Pereira was on the scoresheet for Flamengo as they picked up three points in Brazil’s Serie A following a 2-1 victory at arch-rivals Fluminense.
The midfielder picked out the bottom corner with an expertly executed first-time finish from the edge of the penalty area to level the scores going into half-time, before his team completed the turnaround through Gabriel Barbosa in the second half.