Jack Grealish has been disciplined by Everton after missing a training session without permission.
The Toffees winger, 31, was left out of David Moyes’s squad to play Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and will also be fined.
Grealish was said to be ‘ill’ when he missed Saturday’s trip to Arsenal, which Everton lost 2-0.
But now the Manchester City loanee has been reprimanded for failing to show for Monday’s work-out and was not part of the matchday squad on Thursday night.
Unusually, the club gave the reason in a statement on social media which accompanied the team news: ‘Jarrad Branthwaite remains sidelined for a second successive game due to concussion protocols, while Jack Grealish is unavailable for selection due to a breach of Club discipline.’
The midfielder, who has had a stop-start season so far having failed to register a goal or assist in eight matches, left manager Moyes with little choice but to assert his authority.
Jack Grealish was left out of Everton’s squad for their game against Newcastle after missing a training session without permission
Grealish (pictured with partner Sasha Attwood) was punished after missing training prior to the game on Thursday – Instagram: sashaa__attwood
Moyes, a disciplinarian, would only say after the 3-1 win against Newcastle: ‘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.
‘It’s a small squad we have got, we are limited in some areas but we are doing our best to keep challenging. You can see what it meant to the supporters, this is a big moment for them, the players need to keep at it and we are not accepting any excuses. There’s a humility about us tonight.’
Grealish returned to Merseyside on loan in the summer from Manchester City after being frozen out of their squad last season.
British football’s first £100m signing when he moved to City from Aston Villa in 2021, Grealish played 22 games for Everton last term, including 20 in the Premier League, scoring two goals and picking up two assists.
He has been regularly included on the left of attack, but Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George were used out wide against Newcastle.
The breach of club rules comes after Grealish was praised by fans after donating £10,000 to the fundraising campaign of an Everton supporter suffering aggressive kidney cancer.
DJ Anton Powers – an Evertonian – is believed to have shared the efforts launched by the family of Leon, 35, on Wednesday night, with Grealish quickly responding to the call-out with a generous donation.
‘What an absolute gent Jack Grealish is,’ Powers wrote. ‘I put up an Insta story up late last night about a heartbreaking situation for a big Everton fan.
‘And Jack goes on to donate to his fund. What a top guy (blue heart, hands raised emojis).’
Fans flooded the comments of Powers’ missive with their own praise for the former England star, with many recalling that he has made similar impressive gestures in the past.
‘Believe he makes a lot of charity donations like this, gent of the game,’ one user commented. ‘More players should follow (hands raised emoji).’
‘In fairness Grealish has shown over the years that he’s class,’ another wrote. ‘Fair play (applause emoji).’
