Did Luke Garbutt simply leave Everton for Leeds too early?
Wigan’s Luke Garbutt shoots at goal
Former England under-21 international Luke Garbutt faces a tougher task than ever to break through at Everton, eight years since joining the club.
Garbutt, now 23, quit Leeds United’s academy in 2009 aged 16 to join Everton, hoping for a fast track to Premier League success.
While Leeds still sit outside the top flight, Garbutt’s career is not where he would have hoped it would be, failing to assume his role as Leighton Baines’ heir to Everton’s left-back position.
In fact in the past eight years, Garbutt has made only 12 first team appearances for the club, the last of which came back in 2015.
Garbutt most recently found himself on loan at Wigan Athletic, who sit in 23rd place battling relegation, while Leeds are pushing for promotion and occupy fourth spot.
His spell at the Latics was his fourth spell out on loan, previously being sent out to Cheltenham Town, Colchester United and Fulham.
At Wigan he found himself playing at left-back, left-midfield, right-back and even on the right wing, before his inconsistent spell ended.
With a contract until 2020, Garbutt has an opportunity to be at Everton for the long haul, but whether it is in his best interests is another matter.
He need only look at his former club Leeds to realise that quitting so early could have been an error. Their left-back Charlie Taylor stayed and established himself, and only now this summer is looking to move on.
Taylor too is 23, but has had a consistent spell of football at one club over the past two-and-a-half seasons, which Garbutt has sorely lacked.
Garbutt was pictured in with the Leeds away fans when they faced Liverpool in the EFL Cup, showing there are no hard feelings.
Perhaps a return to Leeds United this summer to battle for a first team place with Gaetano Berardi and Tyler Denton might be his best move, if he wants to get back on track.
Luke Garbutt in action against Leeds
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