David Moyes offered updates on the fitness of Jack Grealish and Christian Norgaard ahead of Everton’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur
Everton’s Jack Grealish and (inset) Christian Norgaard
Everton’s Jack Grealish and (inset) Christian Norgaard
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David Moyes has issued fitness updates on Jack Grealish and Christian Norgaard ahead of Everton’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
Grealish came on as a 66th minute substitute in the Blues’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United last Sunday for his first appearance since rejoining the club on a second season-long loan.
The winger, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday, hasn’t started a game since Everton’s 1-0 win at his boyhood club Aston Villa on January 18, where he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot that ended his campaign.
However, when asked whether Grealish was ready to start, Moyes, speaking in his pre-match press conference, said: “I think Jack is a special case, I think Jack is ready to play.
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“I think Jack is probably a boy who needs the football more than he needs the training sometimes. I think having game time helps Jack but in ways that’s still him building up to get to his best.
“I’ve got to say, he’s had a good week of training and is beginning to look ready to start.
“It’s incredibly exciting if he gives us what he gave us at the start of last season. If we get that level from him then we’ll be thrilled.”
Another summer signing, Norgaard, who joined Everton from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee understood to be £7million on August 5 has yet to kick a ball for the club. Moyes admitted that his return from injury has taken longer than expected.
The Blues boss said: “He’s still unavailable. We’re hoping we get him back maybe somewhere after the international break, that’s what we would hope.
“I don’t think we expected it to be as long as this. Look, he’s hugely important for us.
“He’s someone who we were looking forward to gaining his experience, his nous and getting to know him. At the moment, we’ve not had him on the grass yet, so that’s been the disappointing thing but hopefully it won’t be too long.”