Everton Can Ill-Afford an AWOL Jack Grealish
In a figurative and almost literal sense, the club cannot afford to have one of their star players and most expensive investments absent from such a painfully small squad
So it turns out where there was smoke there was also fire.
It’s unfortunate that news of a player missing due to being sick can be greeted with widespread scepticism and one’s mind immediately turning to the Jennifer Lawrence “ok” meme, but that was the case last Saturday when Jack Grealish’s absence from Everton’s travelling party to the Emirates Stadium was explained away by illness.
It might have been quickly forgotten and left to the wither on the Merseyside grapevine had the Club not been moved to confirm, prior to last night’s clash with Newcastle, that the player had been left out of the squad for the Carabao Cup tie as well due to a “breach of club discipline”.
It has since emerged that Grealish failed to show up for more than one training session. Everton would not have taken lightly the decision to release that information publicly but it was, no doubt, necessary to demonstrate that the Club takes these matters seriously and that no one is bigger than the rest of the squad.
David Moyes told the press in his post-match press conference last night that he supports the decision (he deferred all further questions regarding the issue to the hierarchy) but he must surely be angry at a player he pushed to bring to Everton and whose presence is needed in what is a painfully small squad.
The Club simply cannot afford — in a figurative and almost literal sense — for Grealish to go missing. Moyes has just 18 senior outfield players at his disposal; the loss of Jarrad Branthwaite to concussion protocols and Grealish’s transgressions dropped that number to 16 for the games against Arsenal and the Magpies. (Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off with injury during the second half at the Emirates which took another piece off the proverbial chessboard but, thankfully, he was fit to return last night.)
Just as importantly, at a time of Squad Cost Ratio considerations and with The Friedkin Group cinching the purse strings tight, the Blues have no room to accommodate a bit-part player who, on the basis of last season’s figures, is costing them more than £12m to have on loan from Manchester City with no resale value on the other end.
Everton have put an enormous amount of faith and capital into borrowing Grealish and, for the most part, the 31-year-old repaid that last season in assists, a couple of important goals and some exciting performances before he was struck down with a long-term injury in January.
His decision to undergo his rehabilitation at Finch Farm for as long as his loan terms would allow before returning to City, combined with his genuine affection for the Toffees and the supporters, was seemingly an acknowledgment of those sacrifices and a reflection of how at home he felt at Finch Farm and Bramley-Moore Dock.
Sadly, it’s those closest to you who are often the easiest ones to disappoint and let down and that is what Grealish has done this week. It will be confusing for those younger Evertonians who proudly wear his name and numbers on the backs of their replica shirts to whom he is a role model, given that his suspension comes in the same week as he generously donated £10,000 towards the medical treatment of a Blues fan battling cancer.
Where this situation goes now is really up to Jack but it’s hard not to feel at least hugely disappointed or incredibly angry at his actions. He has reportedly returned to training today and it remains to be seen whether he is included in Monday’s squad for the re-match with the Barcodes at St James’ Park, either as a substitute or, less likely, as a starter.
You would imagine, though, that he is going to be afforded very little latitude from here on out in terms of his conduct and that Everton will have clauses in their loan arrangement with Manchester City to terminate the deal should he continue to step out of line.
That would be a very sad outcome for one of the most gifted players of his generation who has achieved it all (asterisks from the forthcoming Premier League censure of City notwithstanding) and earned 39 caps for his country. Should he fail to be integrated back into Enzo Maresca’s plans at the Etihad Stadium, he risks being frozen out from the game he so clearly loves.
Again, what happens next is very much up to him. Everton, meanwhile, should be applauded for holding him to account while also giving him all the support he needs should his own personal demons be at the heart of this latest episode in what has been a colourful career.
Everton need him for numbers. They also need his talent if he can recapture his best form. They can’t afford a passenger when the team is so short on numbers and they have an eye on the January transfer window when transfer funds will, one would imagine, again be in short supply.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers30/10/2026 16:01:33
I fear it's a bit late for that Paul. City are already out of the blocks with 'he's an Everton player' just this afternoon. We could end up in the worst of all worlds, forced to keep paying his wages but not wanting to play him.
30/10/2026 16:14:41
What has Grealish actually done? Seems to be (unsubstantiated?) suggestions that he's missed training and been fined / removed from the squad.
If so, very disappointing from him.
The big issue with a player like this - inevitably on a downward trajectory after become surplus to requirements at a Champions League giant - is whether they are (a) fit and (b) arsed.
Last season, he appeared to have kept himself in good knick and was very much arsed when on the pitch. I don't think he had any misdemeanours either (but others may correct me).
I'm not really sure of his physical state this season but it's fair to say he hasn't started as strongly as last season. George is raw but seems to offer more in the same sort of position.
It'd be sad if he's now finished for us because it's both a waste of money and waste of talent. He does still have a lot to offer provided he can find the motivation.
30/10/2026 18:32:56
Great article Lyndon, it's a pickle alright.
30/10/2026 19:07:21
The backstory to this will be revealed soon enough, as it usually is.
Not a good time to have discord in the Camp and certainly not a good time to be playing on a Monday night.
It could well cause a psychological disadvantage, if the Teams who are 2, or 3 points behind us, get very favourable results.
We could well find ourselves in familiar territory.
I don’t think Spurs could have a better opportunity, to leapfrog us, as they are Home to Palace, a Team that have shipped the most goals, at this relatively early stage.
30/10/2026 19:46:09
stupid, childish and selfish...go and wait outside the headmasters office...if as kevin says it was friedkins harebrained idea to bring him back then thats another financial own goal by these shit hot hard nosed businessmen bringing JG back is the sort of thing the teary one would have done and made a big pr photoshoot of it and taking all the credit for it too !
if there is a chance to chuck away millions you can bet everton will find it...
cancel his contract, cancel the standing order paying him way too much a week and re-direct him back to man.cheaty via the m62
30/10/2026 19:48:46
In my opinion, he is an absolute shadow of the player he used to be.
His career stalled and nosedived after he went on that three day bender when City won the treble (I think).
Still got the talent but his physical decline is pronounced. He lumbers around the pitch like a 34yr old, consistently slowing the play down. It frequently results in samey play that is always in front of teams.
If he wasn't called Jack Grealish and was just a random european attacking mid, no one would particularly be blown away. He'd be regarded as a tidy and talented player but nothing special.
30/10/2026 20:05:21
An arl-arse who still knows how to play football, but is unfortunately no longer quick enough to get away from his opponent, which means his best attribute is now just being able to draw a foul.
They say you never lose it. Until the body starts slowing down, is how I see it.
He’s only 31, I’m sure he could still have a final swan song, but first he’s got to find the motivation, otherwise he simply won’t be playing top level football, much longer.
Retire in the summer Jack, win a trophy with Everton first, and then you will be able to spend the rest of your life getting drunk and reminiscing about it with us Evertonians…Do you really need anymore motivation than that!!
30/10/2026 22:20:08
I didn't see a physical decline in him this season, it was more just 'ring rust' after a long injury lay-off.
But this news is very disappointing, you'd think at 31 years of age he'd be far more focused on maximising the last few years of his top level playing career. Unfortunately this could be another Paul Gascoigne situation developing, I certainly hope not as Jack has always come across very well and is clearly a decent person.
I wish him well, he's quite possibly got far bigger battles in the future than simply trying to win his place back in a football team.
30/10/2026 22:29:14
I am sorry but I did not believe the tale that Grealish was too sick to be included in the team to play Arsenal. We were lucky last season when the Club took a gamble to loan him, and that gamble largely paid off. Although I do recall him being 'sick' and missing for at least one game. I thought the Club were wrong to take another gamble and loan him for a further season.
He is obviously a flawed and complicated character, and his continued presence in our small squad will likely lead to further issues. If we have a choice I would simply tell him that one further serious indiscretion will result in his contract being terminated. With a small squad of players team spirit will be important, and it cannot be good if your best paid player is unable to abide by team discipline.
30/10/2026 23:13:15
I think he should be gone.The signs are there and probably have been for a while.I don't believe Moyes was not involved in his signing.I don't believe that TFG where involved, other than what you would expect.
Everton with a tight squad cannot afford an unreliable player and he will not be up to speed to play with the younger players..
Football is littered with such players that lose their way.Grealush had lost his way.
30/10/2026 00:00:52
No, Grealish should not be "gone" -- Lyndon is correct that the club cannot afford to lose him.
Yes, he has let his club and teammates down, inexcusably so, but the resolution to the situation is not to make a critically undersized squad even smaller by terminating him.
We have 12 games in less than nine weeks before the January window opens, and we need all hands on deck to get through it.
31/10/2026 00:11:03
Mike he will be gone anyway.Those were important games he missed and he was on huge wages to at least present himself for them.
He is slower since the injury and he will be slower still the way he is carrying on.
31/10/2026 00:31:45
So we are now ready to call Grealish “The fool on the Hill?” LOL
31/10/2026 02:58:58
Grealish has an irrefutable history of being a piss-artist. Yes, he's been noted for dispensing a small fraction of his mega income to good causes given his family circumstances (and I'm confident many, many other professional Premier League footballers also donate to tax-dispensable charities) but our own Mr Ridge presciently queried, when he was re-loaned by us, what Grealish meant when he said he was happy to do so given the lack of pressure he perceived he'd be subjected to by signing for us at all.
WHAT THE FUCK??!!!!
Does he want to inherit the legacy of a useless Van de Meyde or, just briefly successful, Kanchelskis?
Not much of a question for anyone still purporting to be a conscientious professional footballer is it, or not?
31/10/2026 06:45:10
It will depend on what clauses are in the contract. We may have to limp along until the January window, but if there are still issues then, and we can get rid, then he may well be gone. Until then, I think Grealish has us over a barrel, as we need him more than he needs us.
I think it was stupid to give him a second go in the summer. It was also lazy and had an air of desperation about it.
I would agree with Jerome in that I think Grealishs head has gone. He has lost interest. If City had kept him on at the start of the season, perhaps he would have gotten a second wind. We were likely a poor second choice for him and his mood has gotten everyone to this week.
31/10/2026 07:32:17
Kieran#16
That is basically the true situation. Another factor is that Grealish has bullshited Moyes and Moyes now knowing it, has had to act.
The whole Grealish thing since the injury and probably before has been a parallel farce,which has now come into the open.Everton could never afford this as they supposedly are battling the financial constraints they are under.
He really has to be gone as soon as possible, so proper injury recovery back up is in place for the New Year. Depending on Grealish is not a option.
Actually Grealish should be heading down his own recovery path.Maybe the only good thing is that there may be talk of that.
31/10/2026 09:22:14
Does anyone know what has actually happened - ie why he missed the training session(s)?
31/10/2026 09:59:28
Robert he has been disciplined.He was not listening to the Manager or Club.
31/10/2026 10:15:15
Circumstances, details and backstories are different, but I can't help wondering if there are echoes of Dele Alli here.
However, I believe the situation with Grealish is far more recoverable.
I do wonder if he is a bit bored, being stuck on the wing. If I was manager, I would try him centrally, next to the target man, a certain M.Keane. Bring Barry on as sub.
Either way, I think Grealish still has plenty to offer us. And with his cavalier nature, I see plenty of scope for him to be an anti-hero this season in a cup-winning Everton squad.
31/10/2026 10:18:06
I am hoping for clear the air, it’s behind us from player and club statements.
Hope he becomes available, and we start 4 or 5 games with George on the left, with Grealish coming on after an hour.
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30/10/2026 14:33:21
Everyone is rightly in a good mood after last night, but the Grealish thing is another big issue we could have done without. Him missing Monday then throws the excuse about missing Arsenal in a new light. Suddenly we are looking at a player going awol for days and days. Ian Herbert who is usually pretty good reveals Moyes had big concerns about bringing him back this year, but the idiot Friedkins felt they needed a bone to throw the baying crowd, and here we are. He's not looked right since he got back, and now that he's made himself unselectable for the last two games, you would have to think that the club's relationship with him is at or near breaking point. So with our wafer thing squad, our 'best player' is now another name we cannot rely upon.
We'll have handed over the best part of thirty million quid to City, and what do we have to show for it...