Jack Grealish is back at Finch Farm, but Everton have not rushed to cut him loose. David Moyes is still keeping him in his plans after the disciplinary breach, even with Grealish having missed Everton’s last four matches.

Moyes said Grealish is still unavailable and that the club will decide on his return when his availability comes back. Everton also expect him to respond positively in training over the international break, with the next league match away to Brentford on November 23.

Moyes is leaving the door open

The availability issue has not been framed as a permanent split, and that is the important part here. Grealish has made only 5 Premier League appearances for Everton this season and played just 299 minutes, so the club have not had much chance to settle on a long-term reading of his loan spell.

The comments around the incident have also not all pointed in the same direction. TheHardtackle has described illness alongside disciplinary issues and missed training, while Moyes and other voices have been clear that the response inside the club matters more than speculation about what comes next.

Bryan King said Grealish has been given a chance to reset, but he will have to work hard to get back into the team. That lines up with Moyes's stance, which is basically a warning and an opening at the same time.

Dewsbury-Hall has changed the selection picture

While Grealish has been out, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has pushed himself into the conversation. He has 10 Premier League appearances this season and a 7.32 average rating, both better reference points than Grealish’s 6.66.

Andy Townsend said Dewsbury-Hall has played particularly well against Newcastle and Coventry, and wondered whether both players can fit into the same team. That is a fair question, because Everton have won three matches without Grealish and the balance has looked settled enough to keep the discussion alive.

Grealish is not being written out of the picture yet, but he does have work to do before the Brentford game on November 23. Moyes wants a response in training first, then a selection decision.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →