Luke Garbutt was not registered in Everton’s Premier League squad at the start of the season.
The Liverpool Echo have reported that Everton defender Luke Garbutt can feature for the Toffees against Leicester City on Wednesday night, despite not being selected in the Toffees’ submitted Premier League list at the start of the season.
The 24-year-old has been barred from featuring for the Toffees as Ronald Koeman ousted the left-back to the reserve squad and failing to submit his name in the 25-man list in August.
However, in January, clubs are allowed to submit a different list to their original selection due to the January transfer window 24 hours before a match – in order to include new signings.
Everton will certainly be doing that, as they have recruited Theo Walcott from Arsenal and Cenk Tosun from Besiktas. Indeed, Garbutt was named in the provisional squad for the 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
However, he failed to even make the bench and now Wednesday night could be the former Leeds United left-back’s last chance to play for Everton this season, with a new squad list submitted at the end of the month for the second half of the season.
Garbutt has been limited to appearing for Everton’s Under-23 side, making 12 appearances in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy. However, Sam Allardyce could be tempted to include Garbutt in his side with Leighton Baines injured.
Cuco Martina has been playing out of position at right-back, but it remains to be seen if Garbutt will be given a chance. Earning £27,500 a week at Goodison Park according to the Daily Star, he has more than two years left on his current deal.
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