Jack Grealish looks set to return to Manchester City after suffering a stress fracture in his foot and David Moyes has admitted the former Aston Villa player is likely to miss the rest of the season
Jack Grealish after Everton's game against Aston Villa at Villa Park
Jack Grealish looks set to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Everton boss David Moyes has conceded that injured ex-Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish is unlikely to play for the Toffees again during his current loan spell.
The first £100million English footballer joined Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City on August 12 and, after four assists in his first two starts, was named Premier League Player of the Month for the first time in his career in the week of his 30th birthday.
Grealish followed this up with Hill Dickinson Stadium's first stoppage-time winner to complete a 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace and scored the goal that secured Everton's first-ever Premier League success at Bournemouth.
The Solihull star has played 19 matches in total for the Toffees, but his return to boyhood club Villa on January 18 looks set to be his last of his current spell after he suffered a stress fracture in his foot.
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The news is a huge blow to Grealish's hopes of being involved in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this summer's World Cup finals. The tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada kicks off on June 11.
When asked about Grealish in his pre-match press conference to preview the trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, Moyes said: "We believe he's probably going to need surgery but that's still not absolutely confirmed, but it probably rules him out for the rest of the season, yes.
"Look, it's really disappointing for the player, the club, for all of us here.
"He's such an important part and he's a big character with big experience for us and we'll miss him, he's done a lot of really good things for us."
When Moyes was asked whether it was premature to consider a permanent summer deal for the player, who finds himself out of favour under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, he responded: "Far too early."
Grealish recently confessed he is absolutely relishing his time at Everton and has pledged to restore the glory days to Goodison Park.
Jack Grealish after Everton's game against Aston Villa at Villa Park
Jack Grealish looks set to be sidelined for the rest of the season through injury(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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"Yeah, I am [loving it]," he told the Liverpool Echo. "Honestly, I'm not just saying that at all.
"Since I've come here, I don't really know how or why the connection's been the way it has, but it's just something that's just happened and it's so lovely.
"Everyone, all of my family say it as well, because they come to every game and they can see it. I just want to thank [the fans] for all the support and all the love.
"Listen, hopefully I can repay you in so many different ways and hopefully there's many more good times to come."
Grealish played over 200 times for Villa before City triggered a release clause in his contract in 2021. The winger was an integral part of the team that got promoted back into the Premier League in 2019, having come up through the club's academy.
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