One of the forgotten men of Swansea City is plying his trade on loan at Plymouth Argyle this season and it creates a decision for the club this summer as to what the Swans (and for that matter the player) want to do with his long term future.
Garrick has made more than 40 appearances for the Pilgrims this season – more than half from the bench – and scored four goals – as they look for a return to the second tier currently sitting 4th in the table with a play off spot at minimum seemingly in their grasp.
It follows a loan spell at Swindon in the second half of last season which was determined by his inability to secure regular first team football at Swansea with just 3 starts being part of his 19 appearances for the Swans.
With the Swans choosing not to recall him from his loan spell at Plymouth it did open up a debate as to whether Russell Martin sees a long term future for the player in SA1 and that, possibly coupled with a Plymouth promotion, could see him move on in the summer?
The wide man will have a year left on his contract and the Swans are faced with the decision to either look to extend that this summer or to cash in now if they do not see him as a long term option at the club.
The question for many would be whether Garrick fits into a Russell Martin side.ย You would like to assume that a wide player with pace would do but its not an area that Martin has been focused on this season preferring his options of wing backs of which Cyrus Christie and Nathanael Ogbeta are likely to be his long term preferences?
Garrick is clearly happy at Plymouth as well. Speaking in December when speculation suggested he maybe recalled he said โAs far as my loan goes, Iโm having fun. I will take it day by day really, game by game. As long as the staff and the fans are happy to have me here I will be more than happy to stay here.”
What we don’t know is what conversations have taken place between the two clubs and certainly between Russell Martin and Swansea but for me Garrick could do a job for us next season, there have been enough positive reviews of his performances for Plymouth to suggest that is the case.ย Whether Russell Martin sees it that way remains to be seen though – time will tell.