This summer saw Luke Garbutt again leave Everton on loan, as he looks to find himself a place in the game. The 25-year-old, snapped up as a youngster from Leeds United, once looked like the natural successor to Leighton Baines at Goodison Park. However, after initially impressing during the 2014-15 campaign, his career has stalled since.
Loan spells with Fulham and Wigan were mixed in their success. Injury trouble did not help matters. He fell behind Brendan Galloway and now Antonee Robinson in the ‘promising left-back’ field at Everton.
He was widely expected to leave permanently in the summer but instead headed out on loan to Oxford United.
It looked like an absolute coup for the League One side. Tipped by many as a potential promotion force with Karl Robinson at the helm, the introduction of a former England under-21 international could only help.
However, it has been a nightmare for the Everton player so far.
Garbutt has struggled for form at the Kassam Stadium. His performances have been roundly criticised with Oxford United starting the season miserably.
Last night it culminated with Garbutt being dropped to the bench as Oxford lost again, 3-2 at home to Accrington Stanley.
Garbutt has gone from the ‘next Baines’ to sitting on the bench for a winless team at the bottom of League One in just four years. Hopefully something changes soon for the Everton misfit.