Dave Prentice has been speaking on the latest episode of the Royal Blue Everton podcast produced by the Liverpool Echo, and he was asked a question about Luke Garbutt, with his contract set to expire at the end of this month.
Prentice spoke about other things, but spent a little bit of time on Garbutt; this is what he had to say in full:
“I’ve seen so many players who’ve showed potential and get you quite excited about them and then not take it on, not show the consistency required, and Luke Garbutt is certainly one of them – Brendan Galloway is another in the same position.
“Where they had little runs in the team and initially looked like they were set to become stars of the future and then for whatever reason, it’s not happened.
“I am not sure it is entirely down to bad luck.
“I think the players themselves have to take a lot of responsibility, as well.
“You have got to be consistent, and you’ve got to deliver what the manager and the coaches want game after game after game and do it in the Premier League and the only the very best players can do that – Luke Garbutt hasn’t done it.”
It is clear that Prentice was excited by Garbutt initially, but perhaps feels he has not done enough to push on.
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TIF Thoughts…
Garbutt made his debut for Everton in 2012 and has gone on to make 12 appearances for the club, but his last game for the Toffees was in 2015.
The defender signed a five-year contract in 2015, and since then, has not made an appearance for the club – so you can see why Prentice is disappointed in Garbutt.
He also mentions Brendan Galloway, and he is another who made his debut as a youngster – but he only made 21 appearances for the Toffees, before joining Luton Town on a free last summer.
It is clear that Prentice doesn’t feel Garbutt or Galloway showed enough to make it in the Premier League consistently.