Jack Grealish for Everton
Jack Grealish for Everton
Everton went into the November international break off the back of three successive wins in all competitions against Newcastle United and Coventry City.
The Toffees are sixth in the Premier League after ten matches and are well on their way to competing for a place in a European competition for the 2027/28 campaign.
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Coincidentally, the club's three wins have come since Jack Grealish has been left out of the squad for the last three games due to a disciplinary issue.
David Moyes has left the former England international out of the side since the build-up to the League Cup win over Newcastle, after a breach in club discipline before that game.
Why Everton need to send Grealish back to Man City
The 31-year-old attacking midfielder is currently on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season, but they should attempt to send him back to Enzo Maresca's team when the January transfer window opens for business.
Jack Grealish for Everton
Jack Grealish for Everton
His exclusion from the squad due to disciplinary problems has been an unwelcome distraction for the club, albeit they have won all of their games since the incident, and it is not something that they will want more of in the future.
The Toffees have scored seven goals in the three games that Grealish has been left out for so far, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be back in the team after the break.
He has not produced a single goal or assist in eight appearances in all competitions for Man City and Everton combined, after only scoring two goals in 22 matches in the 2025/26 campaign.
Everton have been better without Grealish on the pitch this season, winning more and scoring more, which is more evidence as to why they should look to cut his loan deal short in January.
Everton have a ready-made replacement for Grealish
Moyes may not need to dip into the transfer market in January to allow the club to move on from the winger, though, because the Toffees are brewing a ready-made replacement at Finch Farm.
Jack Grealish for Everton
Jack Grealish for Everton
19-year-old attacker Braiden Graham has yet to make a senior appearance for Everton, but he has been an unused substitute on eight occasions in the Premier League this season.
The teenage marksman has clearly caught the manager's eye in training, given that he has been included in the matchday squad on a regular basis, and the next step is for him to make his first-team debut.
He is in a similar position at international level. The attacker has been called up by Northern Ireland for the current international break and is hoping to make his debut, after manager Michael O'Neill described him as one of the country's "high potential" talents.
Everton manager David Moyes
Everton manager David Moyes
Graham came up through the youth ranks as a centre-forward at Linfield, but he has branched out in recent seasons at Everton and is now a genuine option in the attacking midfield roles behind the striker.
In fact, the academy talent has made more appearances as a left winger (25) than in any other position for the club's U18s and U21s combined.
Graham has racked up 26 goals and eight assists in 44 games as a winger or as an attacking midfielder combined in his youth career, which shows that he can be incredibly effective in those positions.
The teenage whiz showed off his attacking quality against a League One side in the EFL Trophy earlier this season, as he scored two goals and provided one assist for the U21s in a 6-3 defeat to Stockport County.
He played on the wing in that match, illustrating how effective he can be at senior level in that area of the pitch, and it is now down to Moyes to hand him a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League.
Grealish has been ineffective in the number ten and wide roles for the Toffees this season, with no goals or assists, and Graham, based on his form for the academy, has the potential to offer far more than him in front of goal.
Jack Grealish and Everton manager David Moyes
Jack Grealish and Everton manager David Moyes
Therefore, the Northern Irish youngster could emerge as a ready-made replacement for the Manchester City loanee, due to his ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis in the positions that Grealish covers.
Graham's emergence as a first-team regular would then allow the club to terminate the England international's loan earlier than expected, without weakening the depth of their squad.