Everton star Jack Grealish and David Moyes
Everton star Jack Grealish and David Moyes
The maverick winger missed the contest after being suspended by the club over an internal rule breach.
Grealish is understood to have missed training without permission, and that was what resulted in his omission from the squad against the Magpies.
It was a shame that it took away from a brilliant victory from David Moyes' side on Thursday evening, with a lot of the pre and post-match attention on the veteran's situation.
Moyes did not reveal whether he would be back for the Premier League fixture with Matthias Jaissle's side next time out.
Focus will now turn to what is next for both the 31-year-old and the Blues, as they navigate difficult times off the pitch.
What is next for Everton and Jack Grealish?
Everton have disciplined Grealish for his actions, and they hope that this will be the end of it.
However, a report from the Daily Mail on Friday claims that it is not the first time that it has happened.
It states that sources close to the L3 club claimed there had also been cause for concern last season in his first loan spell with the Toffees.
It is understood that Moyes was not willing to allow another breach to fall by the wayside and be left unpunished.
Ian Herbert said: "The hope must be that the significantly public nature of Grealish’s omission - very much a case of Moyes refusing to tolerate another breach - will shock him into action."
Has Grealish been worse on the pitch so far this season?
Grealish's form has not been as good in terms of contributions, and his attitude has been questioned as a result.
Last season, he was a breath of fresh air, clearly loved his football, and ended up with two goals and six assists in the league.
This time around, he is yet to contribute in seven matches for the Blues, but the underlying data provides encouragement.
According to Fotmob data, the winger is averaging 1.17 shots per 90 minutes, down on the 1.43 that he attempted last season.
However, the veteran is creating 2.64 chances per game, more than the 2.10 that he managed last time around.
Grealish is also completing more sprints, with 8.19 per 90 minutes as opposed to his previous tally of 6.18.
The Manchester City loanee is also averaging the exact same distance covered per game, with a figure of 9.9km.
Therefore, it seems like the whole thing is being blown out of proportion and his impact on the pitch is at a similar level, just without the contributions.