How do Everton cope without Jack Grealish?

Forty-eight hours is a long time in football. When it comes to Everton, 48 hours may as well be several weeks.

Just two days on from celebrating a fantastic, hard-earned win at Aston Villa, Everton fans were brought back down to reality with crushing force.

The official club posted on social media accounts on Tuesday to confirm that Jack Grealish had sustained a foot injury, and all hell broke loose.

Even before the extent of Grealish’s injury had been leaked, some Evertonians insisted that the loan move from Manchester City must be terminated, or that the Toffees must immediately switch their plans for the January transfer window from focusing on the full-back and forward areas to instead getting in a winger.

Not that those viewpoints don’t have some merit. But — at least for the next couple of days — it is unfortunately just a waiting game. The club have to determine the extent of Grealish’s injury and, once that is known, they have to act, one way or another.

The ever-reliable David Ornstein reported on Tuesday evening that Grealish had sustained a stress fracture. A quick bit of research suggests that two to three months is the standard lay-off for such an injury, but once again, we will only know for sure once the scans take place.

For Everton to get ahead of any speculation and confirm an injury has been sustained in the first place does suggest that it is going to be serious, so as fans, it’s probably fair to strap in and expect the worst, and hope for the best.

The best-case scenario is probably that Grealish will be back in April. The worst-case scenario is he’s out for the season. Either way, David Moyes is going to have to find a solution.

Thankfully, Grealish’s injury is at least coinciding with the return of Iliman Ndiaye from the Africa Cup of Nations, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is also due back soon. That gives Moyes options, at least.

It is frustrating, of course, that just as Everton get their other best players back, their chief creator is now facing a long spell out of action. Another cruel blow in a season that still harbours plenty of promise.

If Everton are to go into the transfer market to sign a wide player, then they must ensure that wide player brings pace and versatility and, crucially, is ready to hit the ground running. There is little point in signing a winger in the 19 to 22 age bracket who will not play or needs to earn Moyes’s trust. That is the exact position that Tyler Dibling finds himself in.

In theory, this could be Dibling’s chance. Ndiaye could move back over to the left flank, where he played last season, and Dibling would naturally come in on the right wing. However, as we have seen over the last month or so, Dibling does not yet have Moyes’s trust, with Dwight McNeil, who is largely ineffective on the right, preferred.

The feeling, then, would be that McNeil moves over to the left, with Ndiaye on the right, and Dibling playing second-fiddle.

Carlos Alcaraz could also come into the equation. Having been out with a hamstring injury, Alcaraz is best as a Number 10, but Everton are arguably better playing a flat three in midfield.

Moyes, rightly or wrongly, also doesn’t seem to fully trust Alcaraz, and with Harrison Armstrong having made such a positive impact since his return from Preston North End, could the Argentine instead be deployed on the left?

Whatever the extent of Grealish’s injury, there is no doubt he will be a huge miss and, if he is indeed out for the season, then — as it always seems to be for Evertonians — it will represent another harsh dose of reality.

Even in that case, this loan move has been no failure. In his 20 Premier League matches for the Toffees, Grealish has scored two winning goals and provided six assists. He ranks third in the competition for chances created from open play.

Hopefully, we get to see him pull on a royal blue shirt again before the season is out. If not, then it will be up to the club as to whether they pull the trigger on bringing the 30-year-old back for another go-around next term.

For now, the onus will fall on Moyes to find a solution, and if Everton do want to be ambitious, then they should at the very least be keeping a close eye on opportunities that may present themselves in the final week of the transfer window.

Reader Comments (33)

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Tony Abrahams 2 Posted 22/01/2026 at 13:11:55

In other words, Derek, just get on with it!

3 Posted 22/01/2026 at 13:24:28

For Everton to get ahead of any speculation and confirm an injury has been sustained in the first place does suggest that it is going to be serious.

I'm not plugged in to El Bobble -- maybe he was out playing golf or something on Tuesday afternoon when this happened -- but I guess you might have a point about the club for once being proactive in an attempt to get ahead of any speculation by reporting it on their website apparaently before anyone else... which has not usually been the case.

More typically, there is a period of what I will call 'denial by omission' where bad news must first be digested internally, with the bare minimum of acknowledgement, nevermind information, eventually eked out to the fans when the shock and horror of the initial reaction has suitably diminished.

I doubt this sequence of events can be paralleled with the severity of the injury, however. Especially as their terse 48-word news item (the shortest in Everton History?) gave absolutely nothing away beyond the location of the injury, the last 8 words of which comprised this seductive promise:

Further updates will be provided in due course — of which there have been precisely none since.

Surely 48 hours is enough time to get a scan done and see the specialist? Or is Jack still propped up on a bed in the corridor of some half-finished NHS hospital, awaiting his turn on the list?

Let's not forget, the meaty stuff — stress fracture, out for months — came from The Athletic, not the club. Not that the news coverage makes a jot of difference in the bigger scheme of things..

But he is (was?) our best player; we would like to know.

Christy Ring 4 Posted 22/01/2026 at 13:46:29

Michael #3,

I agree, you never see the official website mention an injury, maybe until 3/4 days after everyone else, so it must be serious.

If it's a 3-month injury, it makes sense to send him back to Man City, especially if we're paying 75% of his salary, and bring in another winger.

Dave Abrahams 5 Posted 22/01/2026 at 14:16:15

Patric you must be well in with the club, I think that’s the first time we’ve heard that Alcaraz was out with a hamstring injury..

Rob Dolby 6 Posted 22/01/2026 at 14:47:55

We aren't going down and can't win anything so give Dibling a run in the team and build up his confidence. Dibling could be just as good if not better than Jack.

One thing's for sure we aren't going to be adding too many if anyone to the squad in January. Keep Armstrong in the team and hopefully we have a young nucleus of players that can take us forward. Use the rest of the season to build for next.

O'Brien stays in the middle, hope Patterson stays fit at full back. Keep Gana and Keane on the bench until needed.

Personally I would be giving Braden Graham minutes from the bench. Fed up of seeing 2 lumbering oafs running around up top.

Ian Wilkins 7 Posted 22/01/2026 at 14:56:25

Just carry on is fine, and I think the most likely outcome…

But, the PL hasn’t been this competitive/ tight in a fair while. 6 points between 4th and 12th into the 2nd half of season.

If you’re mindset is que sera sera, then likelihood you’ll end up nearer 12th. Fine if success looks like consolidation and avoiding a relegation battle.

If you are more ambitious, and you can see a decent chance of a European place, but you will need to add to a thin squad, even if only with loans, then you would be working hard to make this happen.

A couple of short term loans or loans with option to buy might well be self financing in place pot monies.

Which is it to be? Personally I’d prefer the latter, no massive financial outlays, minimal risk, but best foot forward in the hope of making Europe.

We’d need a bigger and better squad in the Summer though if we made Europe and are we in a position/ owners willing to do that. Is Europe this year a year or two ahead of schedule….?

David West 8 Posted 22/01/2026 at 15:04:30

Mk 3. Maybe its something to do with him still being technically a city player, that the club were so quick with the news, and didn't want it coming from their side.

We are going to struggle to find the assets and contribution grealish makes from the players we have.

Unless mcneil or Dibbling drastically improve, Ndiaye will help, KDH also, but grealish probably assisted all their goals, so it's a massive miss.

Are we allowed more loan players season?

Barry Williams 9 Posted 22/01/2026 at 15:12:43

I cannot understand the idea that there is nothing to play for.

If, and it is a big if, Everton do get into Europe - there will not only be increased revenue and a lot more interest added to the following season - but the club will become attractive to players that may have previously overlooked it - there is loads to play for in my humble opinion. Plus, it may keep some of the players we have from looking elsewhere.

As for the Grealish injury - plyers just need to step up to the plate.

Filipe Torres 10 Posted 22/01/2026 at 15:39:24

Our best player is iliman, then garner, then branthwaite, then pickford, then grealish, it's not that I don't think he is a great player, but don't think we will be missing him too much, as long as the others (I mentioned) play their usual.

We have a very good squad, just a proper right back and good striker to be one of the best in the league.

Ian Bennett 11 Posted 22/01/2026 at 16:22:21

the better question is whether we terminate the loan, and save £X a week for an injured player. Probably thick end of £1m a month.

Paul Hewitt 12 Posted 22/01/2026 at 16:23:59

Start Aznu on the left.

Raymond Fox 13 Posted 22/01/2026 at 16:28:24

Filipe, for me our most important player is Pickford, then Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye has that bit of class so I would place him third, I wouldn't have Branthwaite on the list at all he's never available. I would get him sold if we can still get a decent offer.

We will miss Grealish there is no doubt about that but the team as a whole has coped remarkably well without injured players and the Cup in Africa, I expect we will do ok without Grealish as well.

The manager has plenty of critics but he deserves plenty of praise for how the squad have played up to this point in the league.

David West 14 Posted 22/01/2026 at 16:53:41

Ian 11. I would imagine even if we sent Jack back, we would still have to pay whatever wages we agreed to until the end of the season.

Can't just cancel the deal because he got injured, or no clubs would loan out any player.

It maybe that we can send him back and use the loan space for another loan signing, not sure on how many we are allowed, but we are paying his wages anyway !

Ian Bennett 15 Posted 22/01/2026 at 17:14:59

Guess depends what's in the contract.

There's a couple of loans being terminated early, and player going back to the club - bailey at villa and our own Armstrong already. Villa hoping to get rid of Harvey elliot.

Think it is two domestic loans (Harrison, broja), and overseas is a bit vague. Last year we had Lindstrom, Mangala, alcaraz = 5. Forest in 23/24 had 6, 2 domestic and 4 overseas.

Anyway, plenty of headroom if we want loans. But you can only have one per club, so no more from city, unless Grealish goes back.

Brian Harrison 16 Posted 22/01/2026 at 17:36:54

Injuries are part and parcel of the game, they never come at a good time but we have to find a way of coping. We lost Branthwaite before a ball was kicked but we have coped without him, that's not to say we wouldn't have been better with him. Likewise with the injury to KDH and now Grealish they are important players but it gives the players on the fringes to stake their claim. I am sure if we can go to an inform team like Villa without Gana, Ndaiye and KDH and come away with a win that I am sure Moyes will find a way to cope with the injury to Grealish.

Nicolas Piñon 17 Posted 22/01/2026 at 17:46:22

We’ll have options. Our best players are Ndiaye and Pickford.

Nicolas Piñon 18 Posted 22/01/2026 at 18:08:09

But Moyes will have to be at his best and surprise us for once, tough road if not

Jay Harris 19 Posted 22/01/2026 at 18:10:47

There are a few options,

Tactically and selection wise.

We could go 4-4-2 with Garner Rol Armstrong and KDH or Aznou with Illy and Barry up front.(Gana will presumably be given a rest after he played over 120 minutes in the Afcon final)

Or as is more likely he will play Mcneill instead of Grealish with Ndiaye on the right flank.

MF three as above without KDH until he is fit.

RB will be intersting Coleman or Patto? Or will we sign another.

Harvey Elliott cant go on another loan this season and is a problem child anyway.

Mark Steers 20 Posted 22/01/2026 at 18:19:34

Are only WORLD CLASS PLAYER is simply JORDAN PICKFORD saves us every game SIMPLE.

after JORDAN we have some exciting players and GREALISH has certainly brought us to a new level so lets hope the OWNERS know Class works.

I think the Owners don't know whether to Stick or Twist.

If we gamble and it doesn't work it might spoil are Summer transfers remember they keep saying they have a project.

The problem is if they stick and N'daiye moves back to the left we will have no right side players.

Patterson done ok but we can't rely on him.

Coleman ( don't even one talk about him is he still around).

McNeil will try but not a right sided player.

Ian Bennett 21 Posted 22/01/2026 at 18:38:02

Going to need to be patient with Branthwaite. Yes, hes had his injuries, but under contract for the longterm, the lad can be the best defender weve had in decades.

I wouldn't think of selling him.

Daniel A Johnson 22 Posted 22/01/2026 at 20:00:16

Honestly, he won't be missed.

Slows the play down, and doesn't really offer much end product. I think Ndiaye is our best player by a mile.

We should avoid signing him permanently like the plague.

Mike Powell 23 Posted 22/01/2026 at 20:57:57

Hope the rumours are true about us getting Harry Wilson this month.

That would be great, especially with the Grealish injury.

Danny Baily 24 Posted 22/01/2026 at 21:07:00

Gutted.

But the season is over, and this injury might help us get him on the cheap on a permanent basis.

Edward Rogers 25 Posted 22/01/2026 at 21:59:50

We "coped" o.k without him against Forest. Don't get me wrong I think he adds a lot to how Moyes wants us to play, holds the ball up extremely well (rather than treat it like a hot potato) and I'm glad he's here, but, he is not as quick as he used to be. Time for others to step up and seize their chances, will they take it?

Mike Gaynes 26 Posted 22/01/2026 at 23:43:02

Certainly returning Jack to City is one possible path. Another might be to negotiate a cut-rate purchase deal right now --if indeed he is a part of Moyes' plans going forward.

He's been crucial to the club this season -- he could easily have 10 assists with better finishing of the chances he's created, and his ball control and get-fouled skills have helped us see out games we often couldn't in the past.

But would his slowdown tendencies fit in to what this club hopes to be in a year or two?

It's a very interesting decision. And the club has until 2 February to make it.

Derek Thomas 27 Posted 22/01/2026 at 00:16:43

'In the Window' If we can call back Armstrong, then City - theoretically - could've, before his injury - calledback Grealish

It ought to carry on that we can cancel too - though this being The Ev, who knows what daft shite they signed up for in the loan agreement...and therein lies the problem

City paid over the odds in both Fee & wages - but they're City and they can.

He's their asset...apparently valued at £50 million and on £300,000(?) a week.

He's broken - its their job to fix him and cover his wages while they do.

Our agreement was to cover a portion of his wages while he plays for us and not them...subject again to whatever daft shite we signed off on.

Moyes; Thanks for your efforts Jack, bad luck with the foot - we'll maybe see you again in July if the price is right...but it will have to be very very right, we're no paying you City wages for your pension fund...(thinks - if I'm still here myself that is)

Right that's sorted, next job...checks list...how to put out a team Vs Leeds.

Ian Bennett 28 Posted 23/01/2026 at 06:51:16

Grealish is still in the top 5 chances in the Premier league. For most of the season it has been top 3.

If you aren't impressed with his creativity, then I am not sure what you are watching.

If you want a hard working plsyer, that is quick, scores, creates, tackles, passes, is a good influence on the dressing room, and is warm to the fans, etc etc then you need to temper your expectations that type of player a) comes on loan b) exists c) comes to Everton d) is affordable.

If you can think of yhat player, that ticks all the criteria, be sure to post his name.

Paul Hewitt 29 Posted 23/01/2026 at 07:25:07

Mike@23. Can't see Wilson signing for anyone this month. He's a free agent in the summer and can ask for silly wages with no transfer fee involved.

David West 30 Posted 23/01/2026 at 11:20:31

I know let's play someone who speeds the play up on the left !

They won't keep the ball, find a pass, take the pressure off the defence, get any assits, but they might run a bit faster than grealish!!

Some people don't know a good thing when they have one (had one).

We may have seen the last of him in a blue shirt, unless the fee and wages drop dramatically, even then he has had quite a few injuries, are they going to come more often ?

Mike Powell 31 Posted 23/01/2026 at 11:28:16

Paul, rumour is Fulham want to cash in on him, before he goes for free in the summer,which would be good for both parties

Dave Abrahams 32 Posted 23/01/2026 at 12:11:23

Ian (28), Re your third paragraph how about Ndiaye, he never came on loan but he can do everything else and,to me, his end product is better than Jacks and he certainly gets me off my feet a lot more, Jack has done it twice but I do that every time Everton score a goal and Ndiaye’s v Sunderland could be in the running for goal of the season even though every goal counts the same.

Paul Hewitt 33 Posted 23/01/2026 at 12:14:21

Mike#31. If I was Wilson I'd wait till the summer. You get far bigger wages and probably more clubs want you.

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