Everton progressed to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Newcastle, but attention fell on Jack Grealish’s absence. The club cited a breach of club discipline, and David Moyes backed the decision while declining to discuss it or the midfielder’s availability for Monday. According to Skysports.com.
Moyes backs Everton’s call to drop Grealish after discipline breach
Everton said Jack Grealish was unavailable for selection due to a breach of club discipline for the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Newcastle. Reporter Keith Downie reported that the midfielder did not feature because he did not attend a training session in the build-up to the match.
Moyes said little publicly on the matter after the win. He described it as a “club decision” that he supports and pointed to the club as the place to seek further detail. Everton’s press officer then moved to bring further questions about Grealish to a close.
Asked whether Grealish, 31, would be in contention for Monday’s Premier League meeting with Newcastle at St James’ Park, Moyes replied “I’d never give any team news away.” His availability for that fixture therefore remains unconfirmed, leaving the consequences of the disciplinary breach unclear beyond this cup tie.
Grealish is on loan from Manchester City and had started Everton’s previous three Premier League matches, against Ipswich, Hull City and Chelsea. He then missed Saturday’s defeat at Arsenal through illness, which means Thursday’s cup tie was a second successive game in which he was absent.
Moyes was more forthcoming about the wider group, saying the players accept the values Everton set out on and off the pitch and had done a brilliant job on the night. Everton won 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium through James Garner, Hayden Hackney and Thierno Barry, before Dan Burn’s late consolation, after which tempers flared.
The win books Everton’s place in the quarter-finals, where they travel to Fleetwood Town in December. The League Two side advanced after beating Arsenal earlier in the week. Jarrad Branthwaite was also unavailable for a second successive game as he continues to follow concussion protocols.
