---
title: "Grealish has an Everton way back – but now he has to want to take it"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/jack-grealish-everton-way-back-david-moyes/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2026-11-03T14:30:21Z"
modified: "2026-11-03T14:30:21Z"
---

# Grealish has an Everton way back – but now he has to want to take it

**Jack Grealish has been offered a route back into David Moyes’ [Everton](https://readeverton.com/) side. The problem for the 31-year-old is that Everton have spent the past week showing they can win without him.**

Grealish has missed three successive matches, starting with the defeat at Arsenal on 24 October. He was then left out of the squad for the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle because of what Everton described as a “breach of club discipline”, before missing Monday’s 1-0 Premier League victory at St James’ Park.

Everton said his latest absence was related to fitness, although Moyes gave little away afterwards. Asked whether there was a way back for Grealish, however, his answer was clear: “Of course there is.” That puts the responsibility firmly back on the player.

## Everton ready to move forward

[Patrick Boyland reports for The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7749174/2026/11/03/jack-grealish-everton-discipline-moyes/?unlocked_article_code=1.NlE.ghs3.YdE8wOxvVemG&source=emp_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share) that the club’s expectation is now to draw a line under the disciplinary matter and concentrate on getting Grealish fit and reintegrated into the squad.

Boyland reports that Grealish had been out after attending the [Pride of Britain Awards](https://www.prideofbritain.com/) on 19 October and was at a Cheshire pub the following evening. He later reported ill before the Arsenal game and was absent from training early the following week, prompting [Everton to take disciplinary action against Grealish](https://readeverton.com/).

The decision involved Everton’s senior leadership and was publicly backed by Moyes, who said after the cup victory over Newcastle that he “fully supported” the club’s stance. Significantly, Boyland also reports that cancelling Grealish’s season-long loan from Manchester City is considered a remote possibility.

Everton still believe he can improve their team when at his best, so this is not yet a question of Grealish’s Everton career being over. It is about what he does next.

## Winning without Grealish changes the argument

That would be simpler had Everton struggled in his absence. Instead, they have beaten Newcastle twice in five days, first reaching the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and then [winning 1-0 at St James’ Park](https://readeverton.com/) in the Premier League.

Moyes’ side are seventh and could climb as high as fourth by beating Coventry City at home on Friday. Grealish therefore returns, whenever that is, to a side with some momentum and a manager who has been given little reason to rush him back.

His reputation does not alter that, nor does his status as Everton’s highest-paid player, even though the club are not covering all of his Manchester City salary.

There is still an obvious footballing argument for his return. Everton’s squad is thin enough that Moyes ended Monday’s game with central midfielders Merlin Rohl and Hayden Hackney playing in wide positions. A fit Grealish should strengthen it, but “should” is doing some work there.

## Moyes has left the door open

Grealish is no longer the £100m player [Manchester City signed from Aston Villa in 2021](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/manchester-city-sign-jack-grealish-63763786), and at 31 there is little point pretending otherwise. But neither is he suddenly a player Everton have no use for.

His first loan spell showed enough for the club to [bring Grealish back from Manchester City for a second season](https://readeverton.com/), and Boyland reports that the belief he improves the side at his best remains intact despite recent events.

Moyes has also stopped well short of casting him aside. What he has not done is guarantee when Grealish will return, including for Friday’s game against Coventry, and that feels about right.

Get fit, meet the standards Moyes expects and give the manager a footballing reason to pick him. Everton have left the door open; Grealish now has to walk through it.

***For more Everton news, analysis and transfer updates, follow** [**Read Everton**](https://readeverton.com/)**.***