Everton forward Jack Grealish, and Sam Matterface and Gabby Agbonlahor in circular insets
Everton forward Jack Grealish, and Sam Matterface and Gabby Agbonlahor in circular insets
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested that Jack Grealish wasn't just unavailable for Everton because of club discipline rules recently.
The winger has been out of action for the Toffees since the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on 17 October, and has missed four matches since.
The Blues confirmed that the 31-year-old was unable to play against Arsenal the following Saturday because of "sickness".
It was then revealed that Grealish missed a training session without authorisation the following week, which is when all the noise started to get louder.
After the club confirmed that the forward breached club discipline rules, he was suspended from Everton's 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle on 29 October.
In the two matches that have followed, the reasons given by David Moyes and the club for Grealish's absence have been vague and hard to dissect, but Agbonlahor may have an alternative explanation for what's happened.
Gabby Agbonlahor shares what he knows on Jack Grealish absence
Everton went on to beat Newcastle again on 2 November, only this time in the Premier League, but Grealish was not in the matchday squad at St. James' Park.
The ex-England international was said to have missed the match due to a lack of match fitness.
After that, Moyes confirmed Grealish would be unavailable for Everton's game against Coventry on 6 November, but didn't go into detail to clarify why, just that he would soon be back in the squad.
The Blues beat Coventry 3-1 ahead of the international break, but Grealish was then welcomed back to Finch Farm on an individual training programme, as he returned to action in a 4-1 friendly win over Derby County on Thursday.
While speaking on talkSPORT on Friday, Agbonlahor was asked whether he knows exactly what Grealish did to breach discipline rules at Everton, and if the player was injured, too.
He replied: "Not exactly; he knows what he’s done wrong; just being honest, he didn’t have to apologise. Moyes will have fined him, and maybe he’s missed games because of what he’s done, but Everton need him now."
Scott Minto asked: "Didn't he have a little injury as well?"
Agbonlahor replied: "He was injured; he missed a few games through injury, yeah."
From what we know, Grealish missed games through sickness, a suspension and a lack of match fitness.
Agbonlahor and Grealish are friends due to their Aston Villa links, so the former may have just revealed more clarity over why Everton were without their maverick for four games in total.
Why Agbonlahor thinks Grealish needs to work even harder now
Everton have pulled off some important results without Grealish.
They are now into a Carabao Cup quarter-final, and currently sit sixth in the Premier League.
Tyrique George has been getting more chances to shine, and Agbonlahor has been impressed with the former Chelsea youngster.
The ex-Aston Villa striker believes Grealish has even more work to do to get back into the team now, naming George, Thierno Barry and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as three key players for the Toffees.
It is now down to fit-again Grealish to show he can indeed play a part as and when he is called upon by Moyes.