David Moyes' relationship with Jack Grealish will be key to getting the first £100 million English footballer back in the Everton side, according to one of the Blues boss' former players who was also one of Grealish's teammates at Aston Villa.
The on-loan Manchester City star has missed Everton's last four matches, against Arsenal, Newcastle United (home and away) plus Coventry City. Ahead of the trip to the Emirates Stadium, the club cited the 31-year-old's absence as being down to "sickness". But ahead of the Carabao Cup tie against the Magpies at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton stated that Grealish had been omitted due to a disciplinary breach and he also remained unavailable for their subsequent two fixtures.
Grealish returns to training
With the second international break of the season coming up, the Blues don't resume action until Monday, November 23 when they visit Brentford. In the meantime, the ECHO understands Grealish has now returned to Everton's Finch Farm training base and is on a tailored programme as he looks to regain his fitness.
When Grealish became surplus to requirements at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola in 2025, Moyes is understood to have taken him out to dinner, explaining what his role would be if he came to Everton. After Grealish netted the Blues' first ever Premier League match-winner at Bournemouth on December 2 last year, he proclaimed: "I love the manager to pieces," a remark that had the Glaswegian gaffer on the back foot as he admitted: "I don't know if I like that because players used to not like me."
Snodgrass backs Moyes' handling
Speaking courtesy of BOYLE Sports, who offer football odds, former Scotland international Robert Snodgrass, who had a loan spell alongside Grealish at Aston Villa in 2017/18 before turning out for Moyes at West Ham United, reckons the Everton manager's handling of the situation and his relationship with the player could be key to finding a resolution.
He said: "When you assess David Moyes, the word that comes to mind is prepared. He's always prepared, adaptable, and adjusts to his surroundings. With the Jack Grealish situation, Moyes deals with things so calmly. He's experienced, has seen it all, and puts out fires by setting clear standards and Jack and the team know those standards."
"Jack is a terrific player and talent, but he'll be kicking himself for leaving himself open in that situation. It came out right when he donated money to charity, showing the good heart he has and he comes from a great family as well. It's not his first rodeo with off-field scrutiny, but when the team is flying high in the top half and looking to you as a main man, you need to stand up, show leadership, and avoid leaving yourself vulnerable like this again. Moyes fought to bring him back because he knows what Jack can do, and that relationship will help sort things out."
