Goalkeeper Joel Robles failed to make a single Premier League appearance in his final season for Everton and returned to La Liga in the summer.

Goalkeeper Joel Robles of Everton celebrates of Everton scores a goal to level the scores at 1-1 during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison...

Everton’s decision to pay £30 million to bring Jordan Pickford to Goodison Park did not look good for Joel Robles. And, unsurprisingly, the Spanish shot-stopper soon lost his place between the sticks once the England international established himself as the club’s new number one.

Joel failed to make a single Premier League appearance during the 2017/18 season, after failing to secure a much-needed move away during the final weeks of the summer transfer window.

One year on, however, the former Wigan Athletic man did get his wish. Joel’s contract expired in June and he did not wait around to find a new club, returning to La Liga with Real Betis in the hope of getting his career back on track.

So far, however, Joel has found first-team football equally hard to come by at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Unfortunately for him, the one-time Tottenham loanee Pau Lopez also arrived at Betis and has been favoured by manager Quique Setien so far, with the free-flowing former Real Betis boss liking his ability to play out from the back.

Pau Lopez of Real Betis Balompie reacts during the La Liga match between Valencia CF and Real Betis at Mestalla on September 15, 2018 in Valencia, Spain

Joel, therefore, has been limited to one La Liga appearance so far, starting when Lopez was rested in the recent 1-0 win against Leganes and spending the other seven on the bench.

Joel may be discovering that the grass is not always greener elsewhere.

Joel Robles of Betis looks on during the La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and CD Leganes at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 30, 2018 in Seville, Spain.

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