Cheltenham Tie Excites Garbutt

Robins' replay win pleases former loanee.

Teenager Luke Garbutt was delighted to see Everton's FA Cup third round opponents confirmed as Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night.

Garbutt returned to Merseyside in the summer following a productive season-long loan at Whaddon Road and still holds the Robins in high regard.

A 2-1 win saw Mark Yates' side overcome a tricky second round replay at Hereford United and they can now look forward to a high-profile meeting with the Blues on Monday 7 January.

“I certainly had an eye on the replay,” Garbutt told evertontv. “I had a lot of fans on Twitter afterwards saying it will be nice to see you back and that I’d be given a warm welcome.”

Having injured his ankle on Everton Under-21s duty last month, the fixture will most likely come a little too soon for Garbutt.

The left-back made his first-team debut in August's League Cup victory over Leyton Orient and may have been in contention for another run out.

Nonetheless, the 19-year-old says he is excited for his former team-mates and relishing the New Year clash.

“When it first came out that we might be playing them, I was a bit surprised,” he admitted. “It wasn’t long after I got my injury and the first thing I thought was that it was cutting it tight if I was going to recover and play a part.

“But regardless, I’m just really pleased for the lads at Cheltenham. I think they deserve it. 

"When I was there last season we got Tottenham away in the third round. That was a great experience for all the lads.

"Now they have got another big Premier League club coming down to Whaddon Road so I’m really happy for them.”