James Garner.

Promotion D-Days for United pair

Saturday 28 May 2022 09:00

It is a huge weekend for Manchester United loanees James Garner and Nathan Bishop as the EFL campaign draws to a close with two play-off finals at Wembley.

Sunderland have already been promoted from League One to the Championship, courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers last weekend, and the remaining two finals take place today (Saturday) and tomorrow.

The big Championship clash kicks off at 16:30 BST on Sunday afternoon, as Nottingham Forest face Huddersfield Town with a Premier League spot up for grabs.

James Garner celebrates a Brennan Johnson goal against Sheffield United.

Often described as the 'most lucrative game in football', the final allows Forest to complete a remarkable turnaround since Steve Cooper's appointment as manager, as they were in the relegation zone in the early part of the season.

Garner has been a vital part of the progress, performing with real maturity and responsibility in a key midfield role, and he helped his loan club overcome Sheffield United in the semi-final, with a penalty shoot-out eventually required to decide the outcome.

The United Academy graduate, named in the England Under-21s squad again this week, has played 48 times this term for Forest, in his second loan stint at The City Ground, and has four league goals to go with a string of assists.

In today's final, Mansfield Town meet Port Vale with the two clubs bidding to climb out of League Two in a special day out for both sets of supporters.

The contest kicks off at 16:00 BST with goalkeeper Bishop set to start for the Stags, after making an impressive 52 appearances for his loan club in 2021/22.

The 22-year-old will be hoping to shut out Vale, whose main threats include former United striker James Wilson, who scored in both legs of their semi-final against Swindon Town.

Nathan Bishop is in control of things against Northampton Town.

Bishop was the only player to start all of Mansfield's league games and he was excellent in keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 away win at Northampton Town in the semi-final, as his side clinched a 3-1 aggregate success.

Stags boss Nigel Clough will lead his men out at Wembley in a bid to end the season on a real high.

We'd like to wish James, Nathan and both Nottinghamshire clubs the best of luck this weekend!

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