Everton manager David Moyes has confirmed that Jack Grealish will not be available for the team's Premier League encounter with Coventry on Friday, as the midfielder continues to be sidelined following a breach of club discipline.
The 31-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester City, has missed Everton's last two matches against Newcastle United in both the Premier League and the Carabao Cup. Moyes revealed on Thursday that Grealish remains unavailable but hinted that the player could return to the fold soon.
"No, Jack is not available," Moyes said. "I wouldn't give you the plan but we will be working with Jack again soon."
The exact nature of the breach has not been disclosed by the club, but it is understood to have stemmed from an unauthorised absence from training. Everton had previously stated that Grealish was absent on Monday due to a lack of fitness, but Moyes declined to comment further at the time.
When asked whether the upcoming international break might provide an opportunity to resolve the matter, Moyes remained cautious: "We just need to wait and see how things go."
Grealish is attempting to revive his career at Everton after falling out of favour at Manchester City, who signed him for £100 million in 2021. He played a pivotal role in City's historic Treble-winning season in 2022-23 but has since struggled for regular playing time.
The midfielder's contract with City expires at the end of the season, and his future remains uncertain. He had a loan spell at Everton last season, scoring twice in 22 appearances before injury cut it short. He returned for a second loan stint this season but has made only six appearances so far.
Everton will be hoping to secure a positive result against Coventry without Grealish, as they aim to climb the Premier League table. The Toffees have shown resilience in recent matches, including a win at St James' Park on Monday, but the absence of a player of Grealish's caliber is a significant blow.
Moyes remains optimistic that the issue can be resolved and that Grealish will soon be back in contention. "We will be working with Jack again soon," he reiterated, suggesting that the door is not closed on the midfielder's Everton career.
For now, Everton fans will have to wait and see how the situation unfolds, with the international break potentially offering a chance for reconciliation and a return to training for Grealish.
