After claiming three points against previously unbeaten Crystal Palace before the October international break, Everton manager David Moyes spoke of how Jack Grealish has had a significant impact since arriving on loan in August.
The England international, for sure, has been one of the signings of the summer in the Premier League, assisting four goals in August and claiming the division's first Player of the Month award.
Jack-Grealish-Everton-2526-stats
When the Toffees handed the 30-year-old a lifeline and welcomed him to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, they did so without inserting a future purchase option into the deal.
It has since become clear that they must chase a permanent package as soon as possible.
Why Everton must sign Jack Grealish
Grealish and Moyes have proved a match made in heaven. The Everton manager recognises the playmaker's talismanic qualities and has given him the license to stand tall as the outfit's main man.
David-Moyes-Everton-Grealish
Fleet-footed and always dangerous, Grealish has averaged more touches per Premier League match than any other Everton attacker this season (52.4), as per FBref, and L'Equipe journalist Pierre-Etienne Minonzio has observed that the fans "immediately fell in love" with the star.
Grealish's winner against Palace before the October international break wasn't the finest within his catalogue, but he's off the mark all the same, and these early-season displays suggest that he will continue to play a starring role across the campaign as Everton angle for heights unscaled over so many recent campaigns.
The plain truth of it is he's a special player, one of a kind. Grealish has that irreplicable X-Factor that is either there or not. He might have hit 30, but there is plenty left in the tank for this man, and Moyes must ensure his second tenure on Merseyside is shared with this leading on-field light.
Might that come at the expense of some other first-teamers? Perhaps so. Everton need new recruits over the coming years, but one area where they are somewhat overloaded is attacking midfield.
And, for that reason, Dwight McNeil might be on borrowed time in an Everton shirt.
Dwight McNeil is on borrowed time at Everton
It was unfortunate that McNeil succumbed to a campaign-ruining knee injury in December 2024, thus keeping him on the fringes for Moyes' return and Everton's restoration at the start of the Friedkin Group era.
The 25-year-old has completed 106 matches in all competitions since arriving from Burnley in 2022, scoring 15 goals and providing 18 assists.
Dwight McNeil in action for Everton
Dwight McNeil in action for Everton
And he was on fire through the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, a shining light at the end of Sean Dyche's stint. Four goals and eight assists were what he notched.
Named in the matchday squad for each of Everton's Premier League fixtures so far this season, McNeil has recovered from injury and was involved in the club's pre-season preparations, but he's simply been kept on the sidelines for the lion's share of the action.
McNeil's PL record at Everton
Season
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
Data via Transfermarkt
Moyes, it would seem, fancies a different flavour of playmaker, with the industrious Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also plying his trade from the frontal midfield role this season and looking good while doing so.
Statistician Tactically Matt criticised the Englishman after being hooked before the hour mark during Everton's September defeat to Wolves in the Carabao Cup. "Dwight McNeil has been a difficult watch for a while now."
Everton's Dwight McNeil in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi
Everton's Dwight McNeil in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi
He's got time to turn things around, but if Grealish pens a permanent deal, following previous acquisitions of Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz, it's not hard to envisage a scenario where the Blues cash in on their creative star.