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David Unsworth admits Luke Garbutt wanted to leave Everton

Luke Garbutt of Everton in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on March 1, 2015 in Lond...
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Everton defender Luke Garbutt could not be coming back into Ronald Koeman’s selection thinking.

Luke Garbutt of Everton in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on March 1, 2015 in London, England.

David Unsworth has told Everton’s official website that Luke Garbutt was disappointed not to leave Goodison Park in the summer.

Garbutt has not made a first-team appearance for Everton for over two years, with Ronald Koeman seemingly have doubts over the 24-year-old.

The left-back has been consigned to playing for Everton’s under-23 side so far this season, but his performances have been steadily improving.

Albert Adomah of Aston Villa and Luke Garbutt of Wigan Athletic in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic at Villa Park on December 10, 2016 in...

And Unsworth believes that Garbutt is now getting back to somewhere close to his best.

“Luke was absolutely terrific,” Unsworth said. “That was Luke back to somewhere like his best – showing his energy up and down the left.

“And he defended well. We have done a lot of work with Luke defensively – we all know his left foot is quality in the right areas but we have done a lot of defensive and fitness work with him

“In the last 20 minutes he kept bombing forward and I lost count of the number of quality crosses he put in. And they paid dividends with two great goals.

“I am delighted with him. He was disappointed not to go out on loan but that is football sometimes. He has got his head down, bought into what this group of players is all about and the credit goes to him.”

David Unsworth, Manager of Everton during the EFL Checkatrade Trophy match between Cheltenham Town and Everton at Whaddon Road on October 4, 2016 in Cheltenham, England.

Garbutt could now be pushing for a first-team place at Everton, with Leighton Baines struggling.

Garbutt was once considered one of Everton’s brightest talents, but his progress has stalled in recent years.

The England youth international has been on a series of failed loan spells, and now needs to resurrect his career.

Everton’s next match after the international break comes against Brighton & Hove Albion, when Garbutt will be hoping to feature.