Everton are making Luke Garbutt to be a better footballer - even while he is at Fulham.
The left-sided loanee revealed coaches from his parent side have been on his case about doing the right thing while with the Championship strugglers.
They might not have been impressed by the 23-year-old’s stray pass that led to Bristol City’s first goal and a subsequent 2-1 defeat that leaves Whites rooted in the mire at the foot of the table.
But Garbutt insists the crash, bang, wallop of the second tier has done him a pile of good.
He said: “They’ve ( Everton coaches) have given me tips on how I can perform better.
“Things like ‘you’ve got to defend the back post and stop crosses more’. I think the qualities I do have, at times I’ve not really shown.
“It’s been stop-start at Fulham. It started bad with me getting injured, and not playing the first 12 or 13 games, and then being in and out of the team.
“From Christmas time I’ve had a bit more of a stint, but it’s been difficult and tested me mentally and helped me in the long run.
“This has shown me what real football is. Saturday-Tuesday - it’s very demanding and physical and this is going to help toughen me up.
“Not everything is going to go smoothly for you. But you’ve got to keep believing."
Garbutt says Toffees boss Roberto Martinez is kept in the loop, and hopes Garbutt’s time in west London earns him first-team chances at Goodison Park in the future.
The player added: “He knows what I can offer technically and going forward. He just wants me to touch up defensively and stronger in certain aspects. If I work hard each day then I’ll get an opportunity at Everton.”
