The form of James Garner was one of the highlights of an otherwise miserable season for Nottingham Forest in 2020/21.
He only spent the second half of the campaign at the City Ground, but the midfielder made a considerable impact in a short period of time.
He was a strong contender for the club’s Player of the Year - perhaps only pipped by Joe Worrall’s consistency across the whole term. And he played a big part in helping to keep the Reds’ heads above water, with his four goals being crucial to staving off the threat of relegation.
Given that a 17th-placed finish wasn’t really cause for celebration, it might be a stretch to dub his January move as a turning point. But Garner certainly made a difference.
Fast forward a few months, and another arrival may prove a watershed moment for the Manchester United loanee.
In the early weeks of this season, the midfielder struggled to hit the kind of heights he managed during his first stint in the Garibaldi.
He is a young player, he is going to have to contend with peaks and troughs in his performances. He has also set the bar very high with his previous displays.
But the appointment of Steve Cooper as Reds manager last week may just be key to getting him back to his best.
And the relationship between the two of them could be hugely beneficial for Forest.
The Reds need Garner on top form - dominating the midfield like he did last term, spraying passes around, getting his team moving forward, and chipping in with finding the back of the net.
Cooper knows him well enough to help the 20-year-old get back to that.
The pair worked together when Cooper was in charge of England Under-17s. He made Garner his captain, with that side reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 Under-17 European Championship.
And he was clearly impressed enough that the Manchester United youngster was said to be a target for his former club Swansea City before his departure.
Indeed, Garner’s dad, Dave, wrote on Twitter: “After the coaches at Manchester United Steve Cooper probably knows him best. Steve will get the best out of James and James will give his best for Steve.”
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That came amid reports of a January break clause in the midfielder’s deal - something which is standard practice in loan transfers.
Dave Garner also spoke of his son’s "100 percent" commitment to the Reds.
Previous boss Chris Hughton was singled out for being a key factor in United choosing the City Ground as Garner’s next destination, after his switch to Watford didn’t work out in the first half of the year.
And by the same token, they and the player will no doubt be pleased to see Cooper was the man identified as Hughton’s replacement. He has a track record of working with young players and developing them.
If he can get Garner back to the kind of form he showed last term, that is only going to help when it comes to reviving Forest’s season as a whole and ensuring the England Under-21 international sees out the whole of his time Trentside.
