Jack Grealish will again be absent for Everton's home clash with Coventry City, with David Moyes hinting when the England international could make his return for the Blues.
The Manchester City loanee missed Everton's League Cup victory over Newcastle United last week due to a breach of club discipline, with it understood that the 31-year-old missed a training session and that Moyes backed the club's decision to punish the midfielder.
Fourth consecutive absence
Grealish, who had also been absent from the defeat to Arsenal the previous weekend due to illness, was then not among Everton's travelling party for their Monday night trip to Newcastle due to a lack of match fitness.
Moyes has now confirmed that the playmaker will miss a fourth game in a row when Everton welcome Coventry to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday night.
"No, Jack's not available," the long-serving Blues boss said. "I wouldn't give you the plan but we will be working with Jack again soon."
November break uncertainty
Everton's clash with Coventry is their last match before the November break, but Moyes stopped short of saying that the situation with Grealish could be resolved while club football takes its final pause of the calendar year.
"We'll see, we just need to wait and see how things go," said the Scot.
Grealish, who is enjoying a second season on loan at Everton from Manchester City, has made six appearances for the Blues so far this season and started only three times.
Branthwaite nursing update
Meanwhile, Moyes also confirmed that Everton are continuing to manage Jarrad Branthwaite carefully following his recent return from a concussion.
The defender was absent from the Blues' Premier League loss to Arsenal and League Cup win over Newcastle, before being withdrawn due to cramp late on in the league victory over the Magpies.
Moyes admitted that Everton will need to make a late check on the defender before deciding his involvement against Coventry on Friday night.
"Yeah, we're just nursing him along a wee bit," he said. "Just checking to see he's okay. We need to see how he is."
