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Explained: Why Luke Garbutt has missed Ipswich Town’s last two games

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Luke Garbutt has impressed while on loan at Ipswich Town this season, scoring and creating nine goals in 25 appearances from left-back. The 26-year-old has been a regular under Paul Lambert, playing every minute of every League One game between September 27, 2019 and January 28, 2020, but he’s missed their last two outings.

Garbutt was absent from Ipswich’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland (February 8) and 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon (February 11) due to a thigh injury. Prior to the Wimbledon clash, Lambert told the East Anglian Daily Times that Garbutt was still “struggling”. It remains to be seen whether he’ll return in time to face Burton Albion on Saturday.

Ipswich aren’t short on options in his stead with Myles Kenlock, Josh Earl and Janoi Donacien able to play at left-back, but they miss Garbutt’s attacking threat. As per WhoScored, the 26-year-old has created 37 chances, whipped in 193 crosses with 29.5% accuracy, had 36 shots and completed 55% of his dribbles.

The Tractor Boys are struggling for goals in recent weeks, scoring one or less in each of their last five games, and could do with their third-highest scorer (5) back in the side.

Despite his fine form at Portman Road, it’s hard to see Garbutt dethroning Lucas Digne or Leighton Baines in the Everton first-team, so his future may lie in the Football League.

Where will Everton finish in the Premier League?

1-4

5-7

8-13

14-20

Read Crippy Cooke’s previous article

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.