Former Everton midfielder Don Hutchison is astonished by Ross Barkley’s wish to leave Goodison Park, telling talkSPORT he would struggle getting into the first XI of any other top Premier League team.

Barkley has been pushing for a move away from Merseyside this summer after telling Ronald Koeman he wants a new challenge.

A switch to Tottenham appeared on the cards, with the midfielder reportedly willing to take a pay cut to join the north London club.

However, that move now looks in serious doubt after Barkley suffered a hamstring injury in training which is likely to rule him out for around SIX WEEKS.

The injury blow means it is likely he will stay put at Everton after all and, with Gylfi Sigurdsson set to arrive at the club later this week, Hutchison says Barkley’s transfer gamble has badly backfired.

“Gylfi Sigurdsson is a terrific buy and he’s an upgrade on Ross Barkley,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.

“I think the boy has hit a crossroads in his career; it doesn’t have to be a move for him.

“In trying to move away from Everton I think Ross Barkley and his agent have played the worst poker hand in the world.

“I don’t see him going into Manchester City’s first XI or Tottenham’s first XI, so I don’t know why he just doesn’t knuckle down and focus on playing well and getting back into Everton’s first team, because he’s got the talent.”