Everton have left Jack Grealish out of their squad for Thursday's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Newcastle United after confirming a breach of club discipline. The Manchester City loanee was absent from the team sheet for the match at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the club stating his omission was not due to injury.
Club confirms breach of discipline
A social media post from Everton before the game read: "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 club has not yet disclosed details of the breach. The Liverpool Echo report that Grealish failed to report for a training session after missing Saturday's 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal through illness.
Moyes had set expectations
The decision comes weeks after manager David Moyes spelled out his expectations of the 31-year-old. Moyes said: "I think Jack knows what I expect now. We had lots of conversations last year. He knows when he comes here there is an opportunity for him to play and to show what he can do."
He added: "But I also want him to be a senior professional and a role model. We've got Tyrique and Tyler and if ever you are looking at somebody for how to play as a wide player, Jack Grealish would certainly be one of them. I think both of them could learn an awful lot from Jack and I want him to become that senior citizen amongst them, somebody who teaches them."
Moyes continued: "I think we've got a mature Jack Grealish now as well in terms of understanding the game and what is required, being a team player – not that he is an individual but he plays with an individual style."
Return to fitness
Grealish rejoined Everton this summer after a loan spell last season that was cut short by injury. He has made six appearances this campaign but has yet to contribute to a goal. Moyes had earlier noted that Grealish had been out for six-and-a-half months and had no pre-season games, coming on for 15 minutes in the Community Shield, and that he thrives on playing football to regain fitness.
