Luke Garbutt is quickly becoming Everton’s forgotten man.
Former Everton defender Michael Ball has claimed in his Liverpool Echo that he fears for Toffees outcast Luke Garbutt as he continues to remain on the sidelines at Goodison Park.
Now 24, Garbutt’s promise and potential have evaporated into disappointment as he has failed to make a single first-team appearance since December 2015 which came in the form of a Europa League clash against Dynamo Kiev.
The England youth international has since been on loan, suffered injury, lost and regained his squad number. He has more than two years remaining on his current Everton contract, which the Daily Star claim is worth £27,500 a week.
Ball, who also played for the likes of Manchester City, Rangers and PSV Eindhoven, resonated with Garbutt following his frustrations at Ibrox and urged Garbutt to take action by confronting manager Sam Allardyce.
“I was training all week but having every weekend off,” Ball said, on his time at Rangers. “The club wanted to play me on a Saturday, the manager wanted to play me as did the chairman but they couldn’t afford to.
“His situation resonates with me on a playing, and a career, level. I fear for Garbutt.
“I am urging Luke to knock on the manager’s door or knock on whichever door he needs to in order to find the answers to his problem and ask: what is stopping me from playing?”
It remains to be seen if Garbutt is even eligible to play, after Ronald Koeman left the former Leeds United defender out of his Premier League squad during the first half of the season.
That was able to be changed by Allardyce in January, with the former England manager restoring Garbutt to Everton’s first-team training sessions.
With Cuco Martina playing out of position on the left side of defence as Leighton Baines remains injured, Allardyce could well reinstall Garbutt at left-back.
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