If Barkley returned to Everton I would welcome him back

Everton of course had much less riding on the game than the Hatters - who really had to take all three points - as Premier League status has already been secured for another season.

Several of Luton's attacking players caught the eye last night and while the visitors dominated long periods of the match, they again failed to take full advantage of the chances they created.

I mentioned in the match report one of those players: Elijah Adebayo. The 26-year-old forward scored the Hatters equalizer and looked a menace throughout the evening.

To me Adebayo or perhaps his team-mate Carlton Morris, looks the sort of forwards the Toffees should consider signing this summer.

Another who had a good game was the former Manchester United youth team product Tahith Chong. He has plenty of pace (more of which is sorely needed) and proved in a thorn in the side of Everton's defence.

And of course then there is former Blues starlet Barkley, a player whose time at Goodison Park came to such an unfortunate end.

Despite his obvious ability he struggled to find consistent form or a regular place in David Moyes' or his successors' teams.

As has happened to other academy products like Tom Davies who perhaps didn't fulfill their early potential, he also found himself on the wrong side of elements of the Goodison crowd.

Eventually, after leaving under a cloud in January 2018 the talented attacker spent some time abroad when things didn't work out in West London before returning to England and joining Luton.

This season he has been arguably the Hatters best player and has certainly produced some fine performances scoring five goals and making four assists, which is a pretty good return from midfield.

What he does offer and something we saw glimpses of when he wore the famous royal blue, is real creativity and the ability to open up a defence.

Barkely can also carry the ball from deep something Everton have sorely missed since the departure of Alex Iwobi to Fulham last summer.

I have written about the lack of youth team players emerging recently and certainly since the departure of Anthony Gordon there hasn't been another who looks ready to step up and play in the Premier League.

Obviously, Barkley is no longer a youngster coming through, but he was once and so if he returned it would sort of complete the wheel, so to speak.

I think he has matured and certainly his performances for a very average Hatters team would suggest he can still contribute at this level.

While bringing players back - especially perhaps ones who had a difficult relationship with the home support - might not seem like a good idea, the Blues are going to have to think and work very creatively to bring in new talent this summer given all the uncertainty and financial pressure the club is under.

To be honest I don't think he will come back even if it was a possibility, but then again much stranger and more unlikely things have happened in this game of football.