Popular and talented - but Grealish is running out of chances

Grealish dropped by Everton for missing training; faces defining moment after loan return from Manchester City.

Jack Grealish has been excluded from Everton's squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle after failing to attend training on Monday, described by the club as a breach of discipline. The 31-year-old returned to Everton on loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day, but his second spell at the club has quickly hit turbulence.

Manager David Moyes, working with a depleted squad of just 18 senior players, made the decision public before the match, emphasising the seriousness of the transgression. Grealish, Britain's first £100m footballer when he joined City from Aston Villa in 2021, now faces what is being described as a "now or never" moment in his career. Failure at Everton could mark a downward spiral from the Premier League's top level.

Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-final, with 20-year-old Tyrique George impressing on the left flank—the position Grealish might have occupied. Moyes has made clear the club's values are non-negotiable, but with limited squad depth, he is unlikely to make a permanent outcast of a potential game-changer. Grealish must now work to rehabilitate himself and win back the faith of supporters.