Rafael Garcia is on the comeback trail after nearly two years out with injury and has been promoted to Everton’s U23 side ahead of next season, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The Toffees will be hoping that Garcia can take inspiration from a certain Ross Barkley.
A decade ago, one of Everton’s most exciting young talents suffered a horrific double leg break, one which put his entire football career at risk.
Three years later, Barkley was making his senior bow in royal blue, a first-team debut tasting so much sweeter after all the heartbreak that had gone before.
And Garcia, an 18-year-old speed-machine who idolises Cristiano Ronaldo, will be hoping to take a leaf out of Barkley’s book.
The London-born teenager made his return to action in February after 19 months out of action with a cruciate ligament injury.
The Echo reports that, with Garcia’s career back on track, the England youth star will be playing U23 football for the first time next season.
Garcia is one of 17 players to be promoted to David Unsworth’s Premier League 2 side ahead of next season. The jet-heeled centre-forward will be desperate to make up for lost time and show that his potential remains undiminished despite nearly two years on the sidelines.
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