Manchester United midfielder James Garner says his form with Nottingham Forest is thanks to the mentoring of Michael Carrick.

Garner is in his second loan spell away from the club, after joining Watford for the first part of the campaign, and has been in sparkling form for the City Ground outfit, earning rave reviews for his performances under Chris Hughton.

“There was something that definitely re-jogged my mind a week or so ago," Garner told manutd.com. “I was speaking to one of my mates, Angel [Gomes], and talking about the things I used to do with Michael; the little tips he used to give me.

“You know, most of it sounds so basic but some of the basic things are hardest to do. If things are playing on your mind, it will help you with a split second more [time], so it's definitely something that has helped me and will continue to help me."

When asked for the specifics of the advice and whether it was a case of buying extra time and space out on the pitch, Garner replied: “Literally that. Buying yourself that extra split second. Always looking forward, always thinking forward, always having a picture in your head before you receive the ball. Things like this.

“It's just having the idea and he said to me if you're thinking about doing that before the game, it will just naturally come when the ball does come. You're already thinking what you are going to do.

"It's something that definitely helped me, like I said, and I hope it continues to help me."