Jack Grealish could get exactly what David Moyes believes he needs against Wolves on Wednesday night. Everton might get something even more important out of it too.
Everton return to Carabao Cup action at the Hill Dickinson with Moyes facing a familiar decision over how far to rotate his side following Saturday’s draw at Tottenham.
Grealish is an obvious candidate for minutes, although there has been no confirmation that he will start. Moyes said before the Spurs game that the winger was “ready to play” and explained that he is someone who needs football more than training as he builds towards his best.
That makes Wolves an opportunity, but this should be about considerably more than getting Grealish fit.
Moyes can rotate without repeating Wolves mistake
There is some uncomfortable recent history. Everton travelled to Wolves at the same stage of the Carabao Cup last season, and Moyes made seven changes. The gamble backfired, with the Toffees eliminated before September was over.
There were understandable reasons for rotation then and there will be again now. The Premier League remains the priority, and Moyes has a squad to manage, but there is, of course, a big difference between making changes and stripping too much experience and quality from the side in one go.
Grealish could help Moyes find that balance.
Giving him minutes would hardly amount to playing a fringe player. The 31-year-old returned on loan following another summer of transfer speculation and obviously remains one of the most accomplished attacking players available to Moyes.
There is more to it than fitness. Grealish wants the ball, carries it into dangerous areas and gives Everton another player capable of controlling the tempo of the game rather than simply trying to force the next pass. No one keeps possession better than Grealish.
More competitive minutes should help those relationships develop as Moyes works out exactly how best to use him during his second spell at the club.
Tyler Dibling presents another interesting decision. Cup football offers an obvious route to minutes for younger players and those currently outside the regular Premier League XI, but last season’s defeat at Molineux demonstrated the risk of changing too much at once.
It does not necessarily have to be Grealish or Dibling. There is room for Moyes to give opportunities while retaining enough experience around them to give Everton a serious chance of reaching the fourth round. That feels like the more important point ahead of Wednesday.
Everton have not won a major trophy since 1995, and the Carabao Cup remains one of only two opportunities to change that this season. Moyes can manage workloads and use his squad without treating it as an inconvenience.
Last season he made seven changes at Wolves and Everton paid the price. This time, rotation does not have to mean weakening the side.
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