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Jack Grealish during an Everton training session(Image: (Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images))
Jack Grealish is not expected to return for Everton in tonight's Premier League match against Newcastle United on Monday (8pm kick-off). The England international had been absent for Thursday's Carabao Cup clash between the sides, which Everton won 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Athletic have reported that Grealish is not fit after the omission and that he is not part of the Blues' travelling party for the Monday Night Football match. The ECHO also understands that the 31-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, hasn't made the trip with the squad to the North East.
Grealish was dropped for Thursday night’s 3-1 fourth-round victory over Newcastle due to a breach of club discipline.
Everton manager David Moyes confirmed after the game that he backed the club's decision after they took the unusual step of announcing the midfielder's omission ahead of kick-off.
The ECHO understands that the breach centred around an unauthorised absence from training; Grealish had also missed the recent defeat to Arsenal due to illness.
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Grealish, who is on a second consecutive season-long loan from Man City, had started the Blue' previous three Premier League matches against Ipswich Town, Hull City and Chelsea, and has made a total of six appearances for the club so far this season.
David Moyes celebrates with Jack Grealish following Everton's win over Bournemouth last season(Image: (Alex Burstow/Getty Images))
And when asked about Grealish following his side’s win on Thursday night, Moyes gave very little away. “You probably know I am not going to give any details and it is a club decision,” he said. “I support the decision but it is a club decision.
"It is something I don’t want to speak too much about. I feel the club are the people you should go to if you are looking for more on it.”
Before the Scot added: “The one thing about Everton is that they have got real good values behind it. All the players stand up to the values, accept the values that Everton put out there and what we want from them on the pitch and off the pitch.
“From that point of view, I think the players did a brilliant job. It is a smallish squad we have got, we are limited in some areas but we are doing our best to keep challenging.”
Grealish provided six assists and added two goals in 20 appearances during his time on loan with the Blues last season before suffering a campaign-ending foot injury in January.
Having enjoyed his time on Merseyside, Grealish remained with Everton during his rehabilitation.
And he received support from Moyes in April after pictures emerged online of him asleep in a chair at a rooftop bar in Manchester after being out drinking with friends
Speaking at the time, Moyes said: “I only think of Jack as being positive. He has done great for us. He was brilliant for those 20 games or however many it was.
“I think when I look back at the season, how controlled the team was, how well we played, he was really good for us. So I only think of him positively. He has had a bit of time off because he’s healing from his foot [injury].”
After tonight's match at Newcastle, the Blues welcome Frank Lampard's Coventry City to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday.