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Luke Garbutt is determined to fight for his Everton future this summer as he nears the end of a tough season.

Garbutt returned to Goodison in January following a loan spell at Wigan Athletic but has not played a game since.

The 23-year-old has been hampered by a back injury but is now understood to be fully recovered and eyeing a strong pre-season where he hopes to get the chance to impress Ronald Koeman.

Garbutt was one of five senior players not given a squad number by Koeman in August but he remains set on forcing his way into the manager’s plans.

The former Leeds United youngster signed a new five-year-deal in the summer of 2015 before going on a season-long loan to Championship side Fulham.

Roberto Martinez told Garbutt that on his return he would be given the chance to challenge Leighton Baines for the Everton left-back slot.

But Martinez was sacked in April and replaced by Koeman last summer, who left him out of the senior squad.

Garbutt played for Everton’s under-23s in their Lancashire Senior Cup final win over Oldham Athletic in August, scoring the winning spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out, but less than a week later he’d move on loan to Wigan.

However the former England u-21 international only managed eight appearances at the DW Stadium before he returned to Everton in January.

A back problem blighted his hopes of featuring for the Blues’ u-23s this term but he is now understood to be targeting a strong pre-season with Everton in the hope of impressing Koeman.