Friday 25 May 2012 17:32, UK
Luke Garbutt has put England duty on the back burner to help steer Cheltenham to glory in their League Two play-off final against Crewe.
The left-back, on loan from Everton, was called up for Under-19 action as the Young Lions face a crucial triple-header against Slovenia, Montenegro and Switzerland. But a fixture clash means Garbutt has put Town's promotion tilt first and his fledgling international career to one side for the time being. The promising defender, who has represented England at Under-16, 17, 18 and 19 level, said: "I've spoken to both the gaffer at Cheltenham (Mark Yates) and the England manager (Noel Blake), and throughout all conversations they didn't want to not allow me to have that chance of playing at Wembley in the play-offs. "Obviously as a player you don't get many opportunities, either to play at Wembley or in a play-off final. So for those two to come in my first full season being in a first team, it's one I want to cherish and be part of. He (Blake) didn't want to not let me have that opportunity." Garbutt added: "I gave my views upon it and the gaffer (Yates) really wanted me to stay and play in the play-offs, so England said we're not going to let your opportunity go to waste."
