The attacking midfielder clearly looks upon his time with Everton fondly
Jack Grealish acknowledges the fans following the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland. Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
Jack Grealish acknowledges the fans following the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland. Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
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Jack Grealish has again hinted how much he loved his time at Everton - sharing a message many will be hoping suggests he would like to make more memories with the Blues.
The playmaker revived his career - and love for football - during the opening months of a season-long loan spell on Merseyside. Injury ended his campaign prematurely, his absence keenly felt during the second half of the year.
The 30-year-old became an instant favourite after joining from Manchester City after falling down the pecking order of manager Pep Guardiola. His brace of assists in the first Premier League game at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the 2-0 win against Brighton, were the first of six goals created by the treble winner. He also scored twice - producing two late match winners, at home to Crystal Palace and away at Bournemouth.
Unsurprisingly, clips from all of those games featured in a highlights reel shared by Grealish on his Instagram page as he appeared to reflect on the season. Grealish, who appeared on the verge of a return to the England set-up before his injury, posted the footage alongside the caption: “Grateful for the first half of the season. Can’t wait to be back playing.”
The question for Grealish is where he will resume his playing career. While he remains contracted to Man City, he embarked on his recovery from the stress fracture to his foot that ended his season at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground.
He continued to attend Blues matches, offer public displays of support for his teammates and show up to club events throughout the second half of the campaign. Manager David Moyes often spoke of the positive influence he continued to have even while unable to play.
There is hope at Everton the club can secure Grealish for a second season, preferably on another loan deal. Grealish has spoken of the positive impact Everton and Moyes had on him and his career, and also appears open to keeping the relationship alive - after the club’s end-of-season awards last week, he was filmed singing ‘one more year, Jack Grealish’ with supporters.
While he was behind several playmakers in Guardiola’s plans for Man City, his status in the thoughts of incoming City boss Enzo Maresca are unclear.