A look at the changes to the starting XI that David Moyes could make for Everton's next game at home to Coventry City
Everton's Jack Grealish and (inset) Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton's Jack Grealish and (inset) Jarrad Branthwaite
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David Moyes claims he doesn’t know whether Jack Grealish will be back for Everton's home game against Coventry City on Friday night after the disciplined star was omitted from the squad for back-to-back wins over Newcastle United.
The Blues revealed ahead of their Carabao Cup tie against the Magpies last Thursday that Grealish had been left out due to a disciplinary breach, which the ECHO understands was due to him not turning up for a scheduled training session.
Following Everton’s 3-1 victory - that teed up a quarter-final trip to Fleetwood Town - Moyes said: “You probably know I am not going to give any details. It is a club decision and I support it.”
The Glaswegian gaffer wasn’t much more forthcoming after the Blues defeated Matthias Jaissle’s side again 1-0 at St James' Park on Monday in a Premier League fixture. Quizzed as to whether the attacking midfielder would be back for when Frank Lampard’s newly promoted team come to the banks of the Mersey for the Blues match, Moyes said: “I don’t know yet.”
When questioned whether there was a chance of Grealish being brought back into the fold on a longer-term basis, the 63-year-old added: “Of course there is, yes.”
READ MORE: Are Everton better off without Jack Grealish after back-to-back wins over Newcastle United?
READ MORE: Matthias Jaissle admits Newcastle didn't make life stressful for Everton as he'd planned
If Grealish was to return to the starting line-up against opponents from his native West Midlands region, he could take the place of Tyrique George on the left wing. However, the 20-year-old has had a bright impact during his absence and it was his shot on Monday night that proved too hot to handle for Newcastle keeper Lukas Hornicek who allowed the ball to slip through his fingers and squirm out of his grasp for Thierno Barry to tap in the match-winner in front of an open goal from point-blank range.
Therefore, it’s possible that George could switch to the right wing, last occupied by Merlin Rohl, but although that’s the position he was operating in when he scored his only goal for Everton to date - against Manchester United - Moyes has never started him there. The likes of Brennan Johnson and Tyler Dibling will also be vying for a potential spot on the right wing while Rohl could also revert to right-back, where he would provide a more progressive option at home than Jake O’Brien, who played there in Tyneside with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, another alternative in that position.
While Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall appears to have boxed off the more advanced central midfield role, there is plenty of competition for places behind him in the engine room. Harrison Armstrong has started every Premier League match so far this season, while James Garner is the club’s reigning Player of the Year, but also in contention are Hayden Hackney - who netted his first goal for the Blues in the 3-1 win over Newcastle - Christian Norgaard, whose only Premier League outing so far was a rusty cameo against Chelsea, plus Charly Alcaraz.
If O’Brien does lose his place at right-back, he could revert to his natural centre-back position, but that is another area where Everton are well-stocked. Captain James Tarkowski has been in a rich vein of form this season, as has Jarrad Branthwaite, who earned a recall to the last England squad. The 24-year-old missed the trip to Arsenal and the first Magpies encounter due to concussion protocol, but started at St James' Park.
Branthwaite made way for Michael Keane on 77 minutes and Moyes said: “Jarrad went off, he was cramping in both legs.
“We don’t think it’s too serious but obviously he’s been out for a couple of weeks. We’re not nursing them back in and we’d have hoped he’d have got through, but he was struggling in the last 15 minutes.”
Jack Grealish (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Jack Grealish (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)