Left-back Garbutt is on loan at Oxford United from Premier League outfit Everton and played on the wing during Tuesday’s game with Accrington Stanley.
Five days ago, Oxford United manager Karl Robinson announced his plans to turn Luke Garbutt from a full-back into a winger.
The left-sided defender has struggled to make an impression since moving to the Kassam Stadium on loan from Everton in the summer, starting just eight games for a club stuck in the League One relegation zone.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Robinson admitted that Garbutt has struggled with the defensive side of his game and was therefore hoping to encourage his attacking instincts instead by handing him a more offensive role.
“We’ve had a conversation about it,” the head coach said.
“For all the frailties (he has) – and people may not agree – but I think we can mask them by moving him up one.”
But how as Garbutt got on in his new role? Well, it is so far so good.
The 25-year-old was brought on with half an hour to go during Oxford’s clash with Accrington Stanley on Tuesday and, although he was on the wrong end of a 4-2 defeat, the former England U21 international enjoyed his best performance in Oxford colours.
He pulled one goal back with a terrific back post header before setting up the U’s second. Robinson’s plan, it seems, looks like a good one.
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