Jack Grealish has now missed two Everton games in five days, but David Moyes says the door is still open for the Man City loanee to come back.
Grealish, who is in his second loan spell from Manchester City, was left out of the squad for Thursday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United because of a disciplinary breach. Reports suggested he was punished for failing to turn up to a training session in the build-up to that game.
His name was missing again when Everton named their side for Monday night’s Premier League trip to Newcastle, and the Toffees won without him once more.
Thierno Barry scored the only goal at St James’ Park, his eighth of the season, and the 1-0 win lifted Moyes’ side up to seventh in the Premier League table. It was their second victory over Newcastle in four days, and Grealish played no part in either.
Not match fit, or something else?
Everton’s explanation on Monday was short. The club posted on its official X account: “Jack Grealish is not match fit and therefore not part of tonight’s squad.”
The same line was repeated word for word with the teamsheet, as Moyes made two changes and brought back Jarrad Branthwaite and Harrison Armstrong. Merlin Röhl moved up to right midfield and Tyrique George started in attack alongside Barry.
“Not match fit” is a neat phrase, and it doesn’t really tell anyone much. Coming only days after the reported missed training session, it was always going to raise eyebrows.
What did David Moyes say about Jack Grealish?
Moyes was asked about Grealish straight after the win, and he gave nothing away. Speaking to BBC Sport, the Everton boss said: “He’s unavailable at the moment, and we will make a decision with the club when we think that availability comes back.”
Pressed on whether the absence was about fitness, Moyes replied: “All I’m giving out is that he is unavailable at the moment.”
He was a little more open in his post-match press conference. Moyes admitted he did not know yet whether Grealish would be back in the squad for Friday’s home game against Coventry City. Asked whether there was still a chance for the 31-year-old to return, he told reporters: “Of course there is, yes.”
Coventry, then the international break
Friday’s visit of Frank Lampard’s Coventry is Everton’s last game before the international break, and the first match after it is Brentford.
That timing could suit everyone. Leaving Grealish out against Coventry and bringing him back for Brentford would give the situation two weeks to cool down, and give the player a full block of training to earn back some trust from Moyes.
From City’s side, this is not where anyone wanted the loan to be in early November. Grealish is Everton’s player for now, and loan rules already stop him facing his parent club, so City’s interest is simple: they want him playing every week, not sitting in the stands.
The contrast with City’s other loanees at Everton is hard to miss, too. In the women’s game, Naomi Layzell was named Player of the Match against Man United while on loan there.
Will Grealish play for Everton again?
Yes, and probably sooner than the last week suggests. Moyes did not have to say “of course there is” when he was asked about a return, and the fact that he did tells us this is a punishment with an end date, not the end of the loan.
The bigger worry is the football itself. Everton have now beaten Newcastle twice without Grealish and climbed to seventh, so whenever he is available again, he walks back into a side that has proved it can win without him. Missing a training session is forgivable. Giving Moyes a reason not to pick him when he is fit would be far harder to fix.
Our guess is that Coventry comes too soon, and Brentford after the break is the game to watch. If Grealish is not in that squad either, City will have a real decision to make about how this loan ends.
