Baines an early doubt for Stoke

, 1 March, 21comments | Jump to most recent

Leighton Baines will likely miss the trip to the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday after sustaining a quad muscle injury in training on Friday.

The left back didn't travel with the squad for today's defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and Roberto Martinez indicated after the match that he doubts Baines will be ready for the midweek test against Stoke City.

“We tried to give Leighton a breather against Young Boys on Thursday in the Europa League so that he was fully fit for today, but unfortunately he got a knock to his left quad on Friday and was out of this squad," Martinez said.

“I don't know if he is going to be available for Wednesday — I doubt it — but we hope that he will be okay for the Dynamo Kyiv game.”

The manager handed another opportunity to impress to Luke Garbutt and the 21 year-old didn't disappoint with a solid game in Baines's absence.

Garbutt was a source of some of Everton's most dangerous deliveries into the box against the Gunners but Martinez's men went down 2-0.

“In that position you need to be a specialist,” the Catalan added, hinting that he could have played someone out of position in the absence of Baines and Bryan Oviedo. “We had other experienced players but I felt that Luke had been working well all season and had a very good path to be ready for a game like today.

“He's played really well in Europe, has played really well in the cup and today was a really good test. We were all really proud to see a young man handling the moment like he did.”

Reader Comments (21)

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Dave Pritchard
1 Posted 01/03/2015 at 18:08:29

Not too bothered about that one as it means Garbutt will keep his place in the team which he deserves to on current form.

James Carroll
2 Posted 01/03/2015 at 18:16:03

Fine. Garbutt is better.

Jeff Hughes
3 Posted 01/03/2015 at 18:22:52

Garbutt is a fine deputy for Bainesy and may well develop into our No 1 left back but for heaven's sake give Leighton a chance. He has been a magnificent player in the past few years and he has been unduly criticised in recent months given he has been exposed playing in an unbalanced team with a lack of a proper left sided midfielder.

Nigel Gregson
4 Posted 01/03/2015 at 19:10:18

By now, Moyes would have literally built a game plan based set pieces and ball delivery of Garbutt with some agile jumpers and headers in the opposition box.

Andy Meighan
5 Posted 01/03/2015 at 19:53:48

The Spaniard talks loads but says absolutely nothing.

John Raftery
6 Posted 01/03/2015 at 19:54:36

He played okay today but Luke is some way from being the finished article. On three occasions he misread passes played across to him from our central defenders allowing the ball to go out of play. Most of his deliveries into the box were good but a couple were too short and one was too long.

As I say, he is doing ok but to say that he is better than a fully fit Baines is stretching credulity. Let us not build him up too early. He is still learning at this level.

Trevor Lynes
7 Posted 01/03/2015 at 20:06:54

Fully agree John Luke Garbutt is very promising but Baines is certainly our number one at left back. When Baines is fit perhaps Garbutt could be tried in front of him as Baines is really missing Pienaar or even Osman.

It is ridiculous to be so critical of a player who leads the league in assists from his position. I would like to see the stats regarding the rest of our team on goal assists. I would wager that Leighton is the most prolific.Our midfield and front men are playing with absolutely no confidence and if Lukaku does not score it is hard to see who will. Many have not even had a shot never mind a goal.

Tim Greeley
8 Posted 01/03/2015 at 23:08:49

Perhaps I will join you, Leighton. A match off might do us all some goddamn good. Actually I will be at work with nothing more important to do than follow along on the TW Live Forum and drive myself insane.

I can't wait!

Harold Matthews
9 Posted 02/03/2015 at 03:36:07

Baines has tremendous skill on the ball and is still our number one left back but Garbutt is a great prospect with a hammer in his left foot. Let's hope he's able to deal with the rough-house Stoke tactics. They may target him.

Dan Howard
10 Posted 02/03/2015 at 04:41:53

I'm not concerned. Garbutt is an excellent back up and will take over in the not too distant future. He's going to be a cracking player.

Phil Sammon
11 Posted 02/03/2015 at 08:31:07

How many people pleaded for Baines to remain 'loyal' before he signed his new deal?

Fast forward a few months and people are now calling for him to be dropped for a decent youngster. Baines has been our best player year in, year out. He puts in a few average performances and suddenly he's not good enough. I'm all for giving youth a chance. I'm also in favour of senior pro's been given a kick up the bum by up and coming players. At the same time, I believe in affording a degree of loyalty to a top quality player who has represented this club impeccably for many a year.

Drop Howard for Robles though...that's entirely different.

Dave Pritchard
12 Posted 02/03/2015 at 09:24:12

At the top of the thread I was not saying that Baines is rubbish etc. He has been a magnificent player for us and I still think he has a couple of good years ahead of him. My point is that players should be picked on form and Bainsey has not been in form while Garbutt has done pretty well in his last two games so deserves to keep his place. I have the same opinion about Robles/Howard which Phil (11) seems to me to be comparable to the Baines/Garbutt situation. Robles should not have been dropped just because Howard has been a good servant to the club.

Paul Smith
13 Posted 02/03/2015 at 09:39:30

Bsines is a shoo in for me when fit. I would give Luke the nod over Brian based on his balance and poise, he's got that natural ability to read the ball and adjust his body accordingly(I reckon he knows he's good, cue contract wranglings).

He's unfortunate, as to have "the" if not one, of the best left backs in the country infront of him.

Ray Roche
14 Posted 02/03/2015 at 10:02:26

Tim Greeley #8

"Actually I will be at work with nothing more important to do than follow along on the TW Live Forum "

Wish I'd had a job like that...

Denis Richardson
15 Posted 02/03/2015 at 10:21:27

'Had a very good path to be ready for a game like today'

Why can't the guy just talk normally!

Re the LB role. Baines is still our best LB, let's not forget this just 'cos the manager is clueless. Garbutt is a great back up tho and I'm glad he's getting some league games under his belt.

Vinny Garstrokes
16 Posted 02/03/2015 at 10:49:00

After his majestic passing and vision last Thursday, I was disappointed to see Darren Gibson get only 9 or so minutes yesterday. Would like to see him get a lot more time on Wednesday and Robles on to get a clean sheet!

Amit Vithlani
17 Posted 02/03/2015 at 11:06:34

I hate being negative before a blues game but this game has horrible shades of our disastrous X-mas run. When games mount on top of one another, we appear to have no clear game plan and resort to passing for passing's sake, as almost a safety first measure.

The fear in the players is back - we thought we had dispelled it having achieved a few concrete defensive performances (notably with Robles in goal).

Unless Martinez and his coaching staff will drop the habits of a season and drill the players with a specific game plan, it is going to be more of the same, regardless of whether Baines, Gibson or anyone else plays. This team needs organisation and a proper set-up to open up the opposition.

James Stewart
18 Posted 02/03/2015 at 11:22:08

Can't remember the last time Baines looked like his old self so hardly like we will miss anything if he doesn't play

Matthew Williams
19 Posted 02/03/2015 at 14:46:29

Simple... play Baines in BarryÂ’s position next to Gibson in the centre of midfield, two wingers in Lennon and Atsu on either flank, play Kone next to Rom up top, bring back Robles and keep the back 4 as it is...

Mark Andersson
20 Posted 02/03/2015 at 15:03:06

Last season, all the talk was about wonderboy Ross. Look what happened to him!

Sure... get excited and big-up another wonder boy in Luke Garbutt... or should that be Luke Garbage Â– coz thatÂ’s what Martinez will turn him into.

Stephen Bird
21 Posted 02/03/2015 at 20:09:56

So where are we with Oviedo baby ????

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