Fleetwood Town striker is thrilled to net a new contract at Highbury

The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a deal until the summer of 2023 with the option of another year.

Having made three appearances in the early part of the season, Garner then spent time on loan with National League North club Gateshead.

He returned to Town’s first-team picture at the end of January with an appearance off the bench against Oxford United.

Since then, he has started six times under Simon Grayson, scoring in the wins against Lincoln City and Ipswich Town.

Garner said: “I’m made up to sign another two-year deal. I’ve been here for five years now already and I’m just happy to stay at the club.

“I’ve been here since I was 16 as a first year scholar. To finally break through and start to play football for the first team is a big achievement for me and my family.

“We were made up when the contract was sorted.”

Garner has spent most of his Fleetwood career on the periphery, having struggled to enjoy a real run in the first team.

He watched on as fellow academy players James Hill, Harrison Holgate, Harvey Saunders and Jay Matete were all given their chance to impress.

The striker admitted doubts had started to form as to whether he would be able to forge a career at Highbury.

However, he acknowledged that his coaches at U23 level had ensured the younger players continued to keep their standards high while looking to force their way into the senior set-up.

Garner said: “You do have doubts in your mind whether it will happen or not.

“In the end you just have to stay concentrated on it, not get too down when you’re not playing.

“You also need to work hard in training and try and impress all the time.

“When you’ve got coaches in the 23s like Stephen Crainey and Stuart Murdoch, who are constantly keeping on top of you in training, it’s hard to come off it.

“You’re always on it, all the time. I knew eventually, with the sort of coaches that I had around me, that I’d get a chance in the end.

In terms of his recent involvement, Garner said: “It was a bit of a shock at first when I got my chance because I hadn’t played for a while.

“When I did get the opportunity it was just about taking it and not getting too high when you’re doing well.

“You have to focus on the next game because there are a lot of Saturday, Tuesdays.”

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