LUKE GARBUTT wants to start the 2013/14 season with a clean slate after injuries marred his progress last term.

The 20-year-old made his senior debut for the Blues last August in the Capital One Cup win over Leyton Orient, but subsequently struggled with a string of injuries that limited his progress.

Garbutt, signed from Leeds for £600,000 in 2009, recovered to feature for Alan Stubbs’ U-21 side during their impressive run towards their division’s end of season play-offs.

And even though the club’s second-string ultimately missed out after a semi-final defeat by Spurs, he is proud of their form and excited about his own prospects next season.

He said: “The first part of this season was difficult for myself personally because I had quite a few injuries, so that was a tough time.

“But second half of the season I got myself back fit, played a regular string of games and I think towards the back end of the season I was performing to the level that I think I should be able to perform at consistently.”

Everton U-21s failed to qualify for the league's Elite group in the first phase of the campaign, so had to take the toughest route to the season-ending play-offs, topping Group One before overcoming Group Two winners Newcastle in a last-four qualifier.

And while a 3-2 reverse at White Hart Lane ended the young Blues' hopes of title success, Garbutt remains positive.

“I think all season we've done very well and losing to Tottenham was very disappointing," he added. “But I think as a team and as a group of lads we can be proud of ourselves. We put everything into it, we were just unlucky at the end.”