David Moyes has confirmed that Jack Grealish will be absent for Everton’s clash with Coventry City on Friday following disciplinary action last week – and said he may not even return after the international break.
The 31-year-old was dropped for back-to-back matches against Newcastle following a ‘breach of club discipline’ and will not be part of the Toffees’ matchday squad for the third game on the spin tomorrow night.
‘No, Jack is not available,’ Moyes said on Thursday. ‘I wouldn’t give you the plan, but we will be working with Jack again soon.’
Moyes was then questioned by reporters whether the club and Grealish will mend their relationship over the upcoming international break, which is set to span two weeks.
‘We’ll see,’ Moyes replied. ‘We need to wait and see how things go.’
Asked if Grealish is currently training Moyes added: ‘I would rather not answer your question.’
Grealish, who has made seven appearances since rejoining Everton for a second season-long loan spell in the summer, has been exiled since failing to show up for a training session on Monday last week. It is understood staff struggled to make contact with the winger.
The Manchester City loanee has since returned to training but is yet to feature for the club since the punishment, having missed both the Carabao Cup 3-1 win over Newcastle and the Premier League victory over the Magpies on Monday.
Jack Grealish remains exiled by Everton – with the winger not available for their game on Friday
Grealish has missed Everton’s passed two games after being disciplined for missing training
Grealish had made four successive starts before he missed Everton’s 2-0 defeat by Arsenal on October 24 due to illness.
It is thought Moyes had reservations about re-signing Grealish this summer after similar issues last season and last week the manager made it clear that he backed the ‘club decision’ to discipline the once England international.
Moyes said: ‘You probably know I’m not going to give any details, it is a club decision and I support that decision. It is something I don’t want to speak too much about.
‘The one thing about Everton is that we have got really good values behind it. All the players stand up to the values and accept the values, on the pitch and off the pitch. From that point of view, I think the players did a brilliant job.’
Grealish is reported to have had back-to-back nights out prior to the Toffees’ defeat in north London.
The three-time Premier League winner attended the Pride of Britain awards at the Grosvenor House hotel in London on October 19 where he presented the Child of Courage award to 12-year-old Zac Howells.
He is then reported to have finished the night of celebration off at Bam Karaoke Box, a karaoke hotspot in Victoria, central London. According to the Sun, he stayed up until the early hours of the morning singing with his friends and enjoying the drinks on offer.
Grealish is reported to have gone on consecutive nights out after attending the Pride of Britain Awards on October 19
The next day, Grealish is believed to have returned to Cheshire, where he and many of his footballer friends live, to meet team-mates Jordan Pickford and Tyler Dibling at The Mauldeth pub in Wilmslow.
The trio, joined by Grealish’s former City team-mate and captain Kyle Walker, where they watched Paris Saint-Germain’s thrilling Champions League victory over Barcelona. A witness claimed to the Sun that they enjoyed a few drinks.
Without Grealish once again, Everton are seeking to secure a third win in a row when they come up against former Toffees boss Frank Lampard and his Coventry team.
Their only injury concern ahead of the fixture is Jarrad Branthwaite, who Moyes admitted they have been nursing since he hobbled off late on at St. James’ Park with cramp.
The Scot was speaking ahead of his 592nd game in charge of Everton, which will see him draw level with Harry Catterick’s record of the most games managed for the club.
‘I got told about it a few weeks ago,’ said Moyes, who has overseen more than 1,200 games during his coaching career. ‘I didn’t realise I’d got that close.
‘Harry Catterick’s name has always been mentioned alongside Howard [Kendall’s] name. I’m very proud to be up there, to be spoken of in terms of games. I wish I had the trophies to go with what they had.’
Victory over Coventry could see Everton move into the top-four places ahead of the November international break.
‘I think there’s lots to be positive about because of how they [the players] have been doing generally,’ said Moyes. ‘I feel we could have been doing better had we not lost some players last summer. I think it would have kept us right in and amongst it.
‘I think all you can try to do is get as many wins as you can and perform as well as we have. I think the players, in the main, have had good moments in games.’
Key to Everton’s form has been the goals of Thierno Barry. The 24-year-old has netted eight this term, already as many as he managed in his first season at the club.
Asked about the striker’s improvement, Moyes said: ‘I think the first thing is, he is settling down. We took a bit of an early gamble on buying Thierno and maybe knew he wouldn’t be right, right away. That’s been the case.
‘[Erling] Haaland should be worried that he’s just behind him now,’ he joked. ‘He has to be careful, Thierno is on his back.
‘Let’s hope he can keep scoring for us. He keeps trying to improve and I hope he can do that.’
