Grealish sidelined again as Everton cite second 'breach of discipline' before Newcastle trip

Jack Grealish will miss Everton’s Premier League trip to St James’ Park on Monday, the second consecutive match the Manchester City loanee has been left out following what the club has described as a ‘breach of discipline’.

The 31-year-old was absent from Everton’s matchday squad for last Thursday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle at Goodison Park after missing training in the build-up to the game. He was also absent for the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on 24 October, officially through illness. According to The Athletic, Grealish has yet to regain his fitness since his last appearance on 17 October.

Everton manager David Moyes confirmed after the Carabao Cup win that the decision to omit Grealish was made above him, declining to elaborate further. “You probably know I’m not going to give any details,” Moyes said. “It’s a club decision, it’s something I don’t want to speak too much about.”

Moyes was, however, keen to praise the rest of his squad for keeping focus. “The one thing about Everton is that it has got good values behind it,” he said. “All the players stand up to the values on pitch and off the pitch. The players did a brilliant job tonight. We are limited in some areas but we are doing our best to keep challenging.”

Whether Grealish will be available for Everton’s next fixture against Coventry this Friday remains unclear.

The former Aston Villa winger is on loan at Goodison Park until the end of the 2026-27 season, having fallen out of favour at Manchester City. City paid a then-British record £100 million to sign him from Villa in 2021, and his contract at the Etihad Stadium expires next summer. After a loan spell at Everton last season that was cut short by injury, Grealish rejoined the Toffees on transfer deadline day this summer and made two City appearances before returning.

Monday’s match carries genuine stakes for both clubs. Everton head into the game one point and two places below Newcastle in the table, and a win for either side would lift them to at least seventh.