Jack Grealish has been dropped from Everton's matchday squad for the second consecutive game following a 'breach of club discipline'. The 31-year-old, on loan from Manchester City, missed last Thursday's 3-1 home win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and will also sit out Monday's Premier League meeting at St James' Park.
Second Consecutive Absence
Grealish was absent for the cup tie after missing training in the lead-up to the match. According to The Athletic, the forward has not regained his fitness since his last appearance on October 17. He also missed Everton's previous game, a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on October 24, through 'illness'.
It remains unclear whether Grealish will be involved when Everton face Coventry this Friday. Manager David Moyes confirmed after the Newcastle win that the decision to leave him out was made by the club's hierarchy.
Club Decision Confirmed
"You probably know I'm not going to give any details," Moyes explained. "It's a club decision, it's something I don't want to speak too much about."
Moyes praised his players for not letting the situation become a distraction. "The one thing about Everton is that it has got good values behind it," he said. "All the players stand up to the values on pitch and off the pitch. The players did a brilliant job tonight. We are limited in some areas but we are doing our best to keep challenging."
Background and Impact
The ex-Aston Villa star is on loan at Everton until the end of the season. His contract with City expires next summer, marking six years since they paid a British-record £100 million to sign him from Villa. After falling out of favour at the Etihad Stadium, Grealish was loaned to Everton last term, enjoying a decent campaign curtailed by injury. He made two appearances for City this season before rejoining the Toffees on transfer deadline day.
Everton travel to the North East sitting one point and two places behind the hosts. A win for either side would lift them to at least seventh place.
