Jack Grealish has been told David Moyes is the man to get the best out of him after the Everton boss insisted there was a way back for the winger. Grealish was missing for Everton for the third successive game on Monday night as Moyes’ side defeated Newcastle United 1-0.
As reported by the ECHO on Monday afternoon, the on-loan Manchester City man didn’t travel to the North East with his team-mates for the game. The Blues later confirmed that the 31-year-old was left behind on Merseyside and not part of the matchday squad because he was not match fit.
Club explains Grealish absence
The wording from the club about why Grealish was missing was significantly different from what was said on Thursday night when he missed the Carabao Cup win over the Magpies due to a breach of club discipline.
The ECHO understands that the reason behind Thursday’s explanation was that the club wanted to be open and honest with supporters about why Grealish, who had missed the previous game against Arsenal due to illness, was not available for selection. Talks with City are also necessary as part of a disciplinary process that the club is currently undergoing with Grealish.
Moyes backs winger's future
However, as Moyes made clear during his post-match press conference on Monday night, Grealish still has a future at Everton. “He is not available at the moment,” the Scot said. But when pressed if the situation is repairable, Moyes replied: “Of course, yeah.”
And in a message to Grealish, Alan Hutton, who played alongside the England international at Aston Villa, said via OLBG: “Listen, I've trained with Jack Grealish daily and played alongside him, he's an outstanding talent.
“Yes, he's had his issues along the way, but I still think the quality is in there. Working with David Moyes will get the best out of him.
“It's just about getting his head down, working hard, and showing everybody what he's capable of, because the ability hasn't gone away.
“You don't become a bad player overnight or have things change so dramatically. It's just about getting back to basics.
“I believe he can hit those heights again, especially for Everton moving forward. But it starts with getting back in the team and working hard, that's all he has to do.”
Loan future unclear
Blues boss Moyes stressed that dropping Grealish for last week's League Cup tie was a 'club decision' that he supported.
Although there has been no indication yet that Everton plan to cancel Grealish's loan, 28 percent of those who took part in the ECHO's poll on what should happen next would like to see that happen. However, 38 percent of those who had their say believe the Blues should sign Grealish on a permanent transfer when he becomes a free agent this summer, while 34 percent opposed that move.
Everton play Coventry City in the Premier League on Friday night, and it is unclear if Grealish will be in Moyes’s squad for that game, as when asked if the 31-year-old could return, the Scot replied: "I don't know, yet. Don't know."
