The Blues boss thinks August's Premier League player of the month is only just getting started
David Moyes speaks to Jack Grealish during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton at Molineux. Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
David Moyes speaks to Jack Grealish during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton at Molineux. Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
David Moyes believes Jack Grealish has far more to give Everton even after a lightning start that led to his first ever player of the month award. The 30-year-old won four titles at Manchester City after his performances with Aston Villa convinced them to spend £100m to take him to the Etihad - yet was never a recipient of the Premier League accolade for either club.
That changed in his first month in Royal Blue after his four assists paved the way for victories against Brighton and Wolves.
He has quickly become a talisman for the supporters as a result, ending the win at Molineux in the arms of an away end that has fallen in love with the playmaker.
Moyes was well aware of the talent Grealish possessed when he launched his pursuit of him this summer but had a limited understanding of his character - and whether he would be able to rediscover his form on Merseyside after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola.
This was something the pair discussed in pre–signing talks that proved pivotal to the player agreeing to the move.
Speaking ahead of the visit of Grealish’s boyhood club, Villa to Everton on Saturday, Moyes said: “I did talk to him about it before he came. I did mention it.
“Sometimes you have to take players’ flair, he’s a bit of a maverick, he’s been a great player and if we could get the best out of him it is what we needed at the time. We know he can be a lad. He’s a really good lad.
“He’s a great boy to have around. The people at City said to me: ‘You’ll find he’s a brilliant lad’.
“At Aston Villa [Moyes attended their game with Crystal Palace before the international break] all the supporters were asking me about Jack. I think it was because they see him on the way back to what he was for them and maybe enjoying his football as well.
“There was a lot of that thought [could he rekindle his form and love for the game at Everton]. I had to think: ‘Are we going to get a Jack Grealish who is on the way down and not able to perform again?’
“That was a big consideration for us - were we getting the real Jack Grealish? I had a conversation with him and I felt, sometimes having something to prove, you don’t need to admit to that but having it to prove you have it burning inside you.
“The reception he got at Wolves was as good as I heard for any player since probably my early days here.”
The strength of that reception has not been lost on anyone in or around the club over the past few weeks.
Grealish’s arrival, his impact and the way he has linked up with the likes of fellow new signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and fan favourite Iliman Ndiaye has created a feel-good atmosphere at Everton that Moyes hopes will extend into the upcoming fixtures.
If Grealish can continue his revival that will not be an issue.
Moyes said: “The fans have been desperate to have something to be excited about. The reception he got was top notch. But you have to earn that, you don’t get that.
“The accolade of getting player of the month is a big thing, this is a boy who didn’t get it when he was at Man City, didn’t get it when he was at Aston Villa.
“It just shows you he’s stepping back up. I genuinely believe he has another two or three levels to go. I think he has more to come as well.
“I want to keep pushing him a bit and challenging him to keep doing it. He’s been assisting and we want him to score goals on the back of it as well, if we can.”