Jack Grealish was dropped from Everton's squad for their Premier League visit to Newcastle United on Monday night due to disciplinary reasons. The 31-year-old midfielder missed a training session without permission and was subsequently sent to the club's Finch Farm base to work on his fitness.
Grealish confirmed the move himself. "I have been sent to Everton's Finch Farm training base in Merseyside to improve my fitness," he said. This marked his third consecutive absence, having also missed the previous league game against Arsenal through illness and a Carabao Cup tie for similar disciplinary reasons. Manager David Moyes has not yet set a date for the England international's return to first-team consideration.
Everton's struggles and Newcastle's position
Everton arrived at St James' Park sitting 14th in the table, having won just once in their last five matches. Their 1-0 victory over Newcastle on November 2, secured by a Thierno Barry goal, was a rare bright spot. For Newcastle United, that defeat left them 13th in the Premier League with 11 points from nine games, a record of three wins and two draws from their nine matches. Their recent form shows one win in their last five outings, a run detailed on our standings page. That sequence, which is one win and four losses, includes defeats to Aston Villa and Coventry City prior to the loss to Everton. The team has scored 12 goals this season but conceded 15, leaving them with a -3 goal difference. They now find themselves 13 points behind the league leaders, Arsenal.
Newcastle's immediate focus is on their next fixture away to Fulham on Saturday 7 November, a match against a side currently 15th in the table. The absence of a creative player like Grealish was a blow for an Everton side seeking consistency. He returned to the club on a second loan from Manchester City this summer but has now been sidelined by off-field issues. His next chance to feature could come when Everton host Fulham on November 7. Newcastle, meanwhile, turn their focus to an away fixture against 15th-placed Fulham on the same date, looking to improve on a -3 goal difference.
The original report is at Khel Now
