Ex-Everton left-back Luke Garbutt reacts to ‘very strange’ Lucas Digne-Rafa Benitez situation
Ex-Everton full-back Luke Garbutt has delivered his verdict on the ongoing situation between Lucas Digne and Rafa Benitez at Finch Farm.
Digne, 28, has missed Everton’s last two games – a 2-1 win over Arsenal (7 December) and a 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace (12 December) – owing to disciplinary measures meted out by Benitez, with The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland reporting last week (8 December) that the pair had a disagreement in Spanish ahead of the former fixture.
Boyland wrote: “The pair have rarely seen eye to eye, particularly on tactical matters, and tensions boiled over in the build-up to the Arsenal game.”
Garbutt, 28, rose through the ranks at Everton after joining from Leeds United in 2009 and made 12 appearances for the Blues before leaving permanently for Blackpool in 2020.
In response to quotes from Benitez on Digne, shared on Boyland’s Twitter, Garbutt has called the situation regarding his former left-back rival “strange”.
“Sounds a very strange situation that,” Garbutt wrote via his personal Twitter profile on Monday (13 December).
Stamford Bridge return?
Everton’s next game is on Thursday (16 December) when they travel to London once again and face Chelsea.
The Blues have won just once in their last 10 games and now face a trip to the European champions who have lost only once since 29 September.
After Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Selhurst Park, Benitez may look to make some changes, particularly given the intense festive fixture list.
Ben Godfrey has been deputising for Digne at left-back and while he showed promise going forwards against Palace, he still looked suspect at the back.
Digne has been poor so far this season, but could his experience and deliveries into the box be an important asset at Stamford Bridge?
Benitez has a big decision to make, but the situation appears more positive than before and one can assume that he will at least be welcomed back into the squad this week, even if he starts on the bench.
In other Everton news, Richarlison posted a two-word Instagram after his sub fume v Crystal Palace.
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