David Moyes reportedly had reservations about bringing Jack Grealish back to Everton before the winger returned for a second loan spell from Manchester City.
Those concerns have taken on fresh significance after Grealish was left out of Thursday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle for a breach of club discipline.
Moyes reportedly had doubts over Grealish return
According to the Daily Mail, Everton’s owners were keen to bring Grealish back following his first season on Merseyside, but the move went against Moyes’ better judgement. The report claims the manager wanted discipline within a relatively small squad and had concerns dating back to Grealish’s first spell at the club.
There were obvious reasons for Everton to pursue another deal. Grealish had become hugely popular with supporters and produced six assists before a broken foot requiring surgery brought his first season to an early end.
The 31-year-old returned on another season-long loan this summer, but his second spell has not started in the same fashion. He is yet to score or provide an assist this season and was then removed from the squad to face Newcastle after missing training without permission, according to reports.
Moyes has stopped short of publicly criticising Grealish. After Everton’s cup victory, he declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding the decision but made his position clear, saying: “It was a club decision. I support the decision.”
He also spoke about Everton having “really good values” and the standards expected of his players both on and off the pitch. The Mail reports that Moyes has continued to support Grealish and believes there is still an opportunity for him at Everton.
That leaves the winger with a chance to respond. Grealish remains a popular figure among supporters, but the latest episode has brought the reservations reportedly held by Moyes before his return into focus.
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