Everton's engine room: Have James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall done enough to make England's World Cup squad?

Calum Jones 20/05/2026 15comments | Jump to last

(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

It is not a recent revelation to Evertonians that midfield duo James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have been the club’s standout performers this season, and with the Premier League season coming to a close, all eyes will soon be on the World Cup.

The question the pair will be asking themselves is whether they have done enough to earn a seat on the plane to North America.

Plenty of media hype has surrounded James Garner specifically this season, with the 25-year-old transforming into a standout star under Moyes’s management.

Garner has provided consistency within the defensive midfielder position this season, playing a central role in the passing networks in the Blues’ setup.

The step from midfield to attack, breaking the lines, was something missing from this Everton side, especially under Sean Dyche, where there was a clear overreliance on ‘over-the-top’ balls directed towards Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Now, under Moyes, Garner seems to be thriving, picking up seven assists and two goals, including one in the opening game at Hill Dickinson Stadium, a 2-0 win over Brighton. It’s a marked improvement for Garner, who failed to score and provided just a single assist in 2024-25, starting only 17 times in the Premier League.

His numbers have improved across the board, with Garner averaging more passes, at a higher completion rate, more chances created, shots, tackles, and interceptions per 90 minutes.

No player in the Premier League has made more tackles (116) or interceptions (58) than Garner this season.

England manager Thomas Tuchel could definitely benefit from a player of Garner’s calibre. The German gave Garner his debut in March and has watched the midfielder from the stands on several occasions this season. Discussing his maiden England inclusion, Tuchel told the media that he had been impressed by the ‘underrated’ Garner.

“He plays several positions. I've been impressed watching him live by his work rate and physicality. He is a fantastic team-mate and does a lot to help those around him,” he said.

This season, Garner committed his future to the Blues with a fresh long-term contract, with terms set to expire in June 2030. It’s hoped that the English midfield duo of Garner and Dewsbury-Hall can flourish for years to come.

Dewsbury-Hall may not be the most obvious name on the squad list, but perhaps there have been signs this season that the 27-year-old should be in contention for a spot in the World Cup squad.

Moyes has deployed Dewsbury-Hall in the central attacking midfield role for the majority of this campaign, where his desire to get on the ball, and work ethic, have both stood out. Dewsbury-Hall has been a key part of Everton’s success in regaining the ball via high turnovers.

According to Opta, only Manchester City and Brighton have regained the ball more often in high areas of the pitch, with Dewsbury-Hall a key part of that. Everton’s failure to turn those turnovers into chances, just 13.1% of those turnovers led to a shot on goal, is an obvious area for improvement next season.

Beto is currently Everton’s top goalscorer this season, with nine, and Dewsbury-Hall sits joint-second with eight goals. The midfielder has also racked up four assists, enhancing his argument for inclusion. Though competition is fierce, he has more league goal involvements this season than Eberechi Eze (9), Jude Bellingham (9), Cole Palmer (10), and as many as Phil Foden (12).

His omission from an expanded squad in March suggests that Dewsbury-Hall must do more to catch Thomas Tuchel’s eye, though he has outlined his desire to represent England, amid overtures from Ireland.

"I see myself as English and have it in my head that I can play for England,” he told the BBC in December.

“I just want to give myself a chance to play for England, which is a lifelong dream. I'm playing for a massive club that's on the up, and I still believe I can do it."

Ahead of Friday’s squad announcement, the chances of a call-up for Garner seem significantly higher than Dewsbury-Hall’s, but both have been thriving as Everton midfielders this season. Tuchel will have watched on at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with interest.

Reader Comments (15)

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Paul Hewitt
1 Posted 20/05/2026 at 12:15:01

Both had good seasons, but have dropped off a bit because Moyes has flogged them to death.

Christy Ring
2 Posted 20/05/2026 at 13:22:03

They play every game, KDH has ran out of steam in last few games, and Moyes won't sub him. We should play Garner, Rohl and Armstrong in midfield on Sunday, they played well together at Villa, and Moyes has only brought Rohl back for the last few games, and Armstrong just left on the bench.

Tom Bowers
3 Posted 20/05/2026 at 15:16:08

A few players have underperformed lately, just showing up to pick up their pay packets.

The whole squad has not been on the same wavelength

Whilst hoping for the best it was obvious from the first game we had a mid-table squad and apart from three or four, most have show too much inconsistency.

The offence was always a problem but over recent months the defense had been all over the place especially in the latter stages of games. Major repair work needs to be done.

As far as the World Cup is concerned only Pickford and Garnet deserve inclusion but I have my doubts about Tuchel. If you have been mentioned in the media recently you will get a spot especially if you are with a London club or Manchester.

England would do well to reach the Semi's but if it's against Germany which way does Tuchel sway ?

John Collins
4 Posted 20/05/2026 at 16:34:02

Garner has outshone Anderson in the two games this season.
He'sat least as good as any player in his position predicted to make the squad.
Better than most imo.
I don't think KDH will be selected

Rob Dolby
5 Posted 20/05/2026 at 16:50:11

There is no way Kdh is anywhere near the standard of Rogers, Bellingham, foden or Palmer so he can keep his flip flops on and come back stronger next season hopefully playing deeper in a role that suits him.

Garner has been my player of the season by a long way and deserves to be included. Not sure he will get in ahead of Rice or Anderson but he deserves to be on the plane.

Dave Abrahams
6 Posted 20/05/2026 at 17:00:40

For me KDH hasn’t impressed consistently for the Blues this season, I was underwhelmed by a lot of his early games at the start of the season, then he had a good spell of five games before he got injured, when he came back he has had a run of good, bad and indifferent games.

I know he played for Leicester when they won their first game league, I don’t know how often he played in that season but I honestly don’t remember him from that Leicester team, went to Chelsea and never got a regular game for them then came to us for a relatively small fee, don’t know how much Chelsea paid for him.

England have two excellent midfielders in Rice and Bellingham, two more very good ones in Palmer and Foden so when Garner is selected I don’t see KDH anywhere near the squad, mind you if Henderson is picked then there is a chance for a lot of English centre midfielders.

Mark Taylor
7 Posted 20/05/2026 at 19:14:49

Maybe Garner instead of Henderson if those end up being the options. Might not get ahead of Wharton though. His appeal is versatility and doggedness, useful squad member. Did OK when he was picked without lighting any fires. 50-50 chance.

KDH? No chance.

Peter Gorman
8 Posted 20/05/2026 at 20:34:05

I think that Tuchel rates Garner very highly because he is so versatile and his stats prove his all-round game. "Mini-Valverde" no less.

I think he gets the nod, then I predict the press dog-piling on the decision.

Christy Ring
9 Posted 20/05/2026 at 20:41:21

The last 5/6 games we've been poor, which won't help Garner, but his performance when picked for England, and Tuchel's praise of him could go in his favour. I still can't believe Henderson is in the frame, Mainoo could be a dark horse, KDH no chance.

Mal van Schaick
10 Posted 20/05/2026 at 20:42:26

Garner understands his defensive duties as a box to box player, but I would like him to trial the Ndaiye role behind the striker or a free role in midfield. I think that his defensive duties hold him back a bit, then again Moyes knows how to ruin a good player.

Jay Lewis
11 Posted 20/05/2026 at 21:38:06

Some of our players look knackered and you can understand when they have played every single match, would be much worse if we got into Europe. But then again, if we had a manager who knows how to rotate players, wouldn't be as much of a problem.
There used to be a time when people would say "the team hasn't gelled yet" but how can they gel when they don't get any minutes?
When Rohl replaced Gueye when he was on AFCON duty, he should have stayed in the team to give Gueye a longer rest, but no, not our fucking Davey and that's just one example

Paul Griffiths
12 Posted 21/05/2026 at 04:06:22

Garner was poor in his last game with the German in the stands. He has been pretty poor for the last half-dozen games and the German will have reports on each one of them.

Garner might make the long-list but I don't believe that he will be in the short-list. He would be a bit part if he managed to make it.

KDH? No chance. Along with Garner and Ndiaye he has not done well in what, to be fair, has been an awful run of games for us more generally.

How many players will we have at the World Cup: Pickford, Ndiaye, Gana, Patterson? That's it isn't it? Four.

That's pretty fecking poor.

Mick O\\\'Malley
13 Posted 21/05/2026 at 05:58:15

In a word No, there are better midfielders about than these 2, just because they are about the best we have does not make them good enough for England

Mark Steers
14 Posted 21/05/2026 at 10:50:47

This should not even be a discussion. Both are just better than average.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a nice player but too slow and always seems to fade. Garner works his socks off but no end product.

If we had a bit more quality, it might help them because 90 minutes is a long time for them... they simply don't get close to the striker often enough.

And please just say No to Delap -- he's useless!!!

Jimmy Carr
15 Posted 21/05/2026 at 14:04:30

Who really cares about the World Cup? More teams this round isn't there? So more pointless group games, a bit like The Champions League, another tournament that's been made meaningless in the early stages by too many qualifiers.

Add in Trump, the potential of ICE to get involved, the ongoing exploitation of the tournament by FIFA, half-time shows and you may count your blessings if you don't make the squad.

I would love to see Iran lift the trophy though!

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