Grealish, 31, Apologises to Everton Fans After Missing Four Matches

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Jack Grealish apologised to Everton fans on Instagram after his first game following a breach of club discipline, per Daily Mail.
A scratch Everton XI beat Derby County 4-1 behind closed doors at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday.
The Manchester City loanee missed four matches and last played for Everton on 17 October.

What Grealish Said After His First Everton Game in Weeks

Jack Grealish chose Instagram to say sorry. On Thursday evening, after he played for Everton for the first time following a breach of club discipline, the 31-year-old posted a message to supporters. “Nice to be back out there with the boys today after a few good days training,” Grealish wrote on his Instagram story. “I want to apologise to the fans and everyone at the club for not being able to help the team the last few weeks.” He finished with a promise: “I love playing for this club and can’t wait to be back playing in front of you guys in an Everton shirt. See you all soon.”

The friendly at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

The game was a behind-closed-doors friendly against Derby County, and Everton fielded a scratch XI. Derby took the lead through Lars-Jørgen Salvesen. Everton then won 4-1. Charly Alcaraz scored twice, and 16-year-old Jonathan Nsangou and Christian Norgaard added the others. The match also gave minutes to Tyler Dibling, Hayden Hackney, Merlin Rohl, Michael Keane, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and goalkeeper Tom King.

For Grealish it was a step back into David Moyes’s squad. He returned to an individual training programme the Friday before, which put him back in Everton training. His last appearance in a blue shirt came in the 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea on 17 October.

How the exile began

Grealish first cited illness for missing Everton’s trip to Arsenal. Everton then confirmed he had breached discipline, and the club dropped Grealish over the breach. Moyes left him out of the squad for two games against Newcastle United and then the 3-1 win over Coventry City. Counting the Arsenal trip, that made four matches without him, and Moyes backed the decision to leave him out.

The manager has said little about it. “He’s unavailable at the moment and we will make a decision with the club when we think that availability comes back,” Moyes said. He did confirm the door was still open for a return, a position he set out when he left Grealish out twice and said there was a way back.

Everton moved on without him

The results have gone the club’s way in his absence. Everton have won three of their last four matches and climbed the Premier League table. They have also reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Where Grealish stands

Grealish is trying to rebuild his career on loan at Everton after falling out of favour at Manchester City, who paid £100m for him in 2021. He played a key role in City’s 2022-23 Treble win, and his contract at City runs out at the end of this season. He scored twice in 22 games for Everton last season, a loan spell cut short by injury, then agreed another loan on transfer deadline day. This season he made six appearances before the breach and has not scored or set up a goal. He has 39 England caps and last played for the national team in October 2024.

Everton are due back in action on 23 November with a trip to Brentford, the next chance for Grealish to play a competitive game. Moyes has said only that a decision will be made with the club when his availability returns.

WRITTEN BY

George Howson

George Howson is a Futbol Chronicle contributor and accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every match report and analysis he writes.