He was just 18 years old at the time, and he was on for his second Premier League start in the final minutes, with Manchester United safely ahead of Norwich City.
He got the ball in the centre of the park and was quickly closed down by Emi Buendia, but with a fast drop of the shoulder, the obstacle was avoided, just like a fighter ducking a jab.
The offensive player was left sprawled on the field, and the ball was spread out wide. Emi No-idea is a better description.
It was a moment of surreal poise and talent for a player so young, and James Garner's aspirations have skyrocketed since then.
It's been nearly 18 months since Garner dazzled in that eight-minute appearance, and nearly as long since he last featured for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a professional match, but it's been a year of learning for the midfielder, who might return to Old Trafford this summer as the ideal alternative to one of the many squads challenges his boss faces in the transfer sector.
Garner spent the first half of the season on loan at Watford, where he had no effect on the Hornets' competitive promotion bid. Ten of his 21 starts at Vicarage Road came from the bench, although he only saw 40 minutes of football until current boss Xisco Munoz took over.
The Birkenhead-born starlet cut an especially disappointing figure during a game against Stoke City when his boss advised him to plan to come on but then changed his mind and asked him to regain his bench seat.
A week later, and just hours after Munoz assured reporters that Garner will have further chances to please him, his season-long loan at Watford was cut short. Garner returned to Manchester after his first true challenge as a senior player, feeling as though he would fail to achieve his full potential.
Another chance wouldn't be far behind, and with United desperate for Garner to gain more first-team experience and no lack of suitors, he transferred to Nottingham Forest the very next day.
The contrast in his two loan spells may not have been greater. Garner appeared in all 20 of Nottingham Forest's games during his time there, starting 19 and completing the entire 90 minutes in 18. He soon established himself as one of Forest's most valuable players, anchoring the midfield with rugged tackles and starting attacks with incisive passes - his fifty-yard cross-field balls were particularly impressive.
He also scored four goals, two of which were spectacular shots, and one of which came in the East Midlands derby against Derby County. Garner departed the City Ground after his final-day 30-yard screamer against Preston North End, making his boss and fans waiting for him to return next season. Brighton, Rangers, and Norwich are also rumoured to be involved in taking him on loan.
But he has his sights set on a bigger prize: a place in Manchester United's first eleven.
"I guess that's the end goal," he said Inside United. “I've been at the club since I was seven or eight, and my biggest goal is to make the first team and do everything it takes to make the first team.
“As I said, I'll just keep working hard, keep my head down, and see what's best for my growth. Still, finally, I want to compete for Manchester United and be a member of the first team.”
And why isn't he able to dream? Solskjaer is not afraid to give his promising young players a shot, with Mason Greenwood already emerging as one of his finest at the age of 19. More specifically, United need a new midfielder to add defensive solidity and consistency distribution to the team's midfield.
One is on the club's shopping list for the forthcoming transfer window, but it isn't the only place in need of reinforcements in what is shaping up to be a hectic summer.
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