Phil Lafferty 🇬🇧

Jack Grealish is talented, big-hearted, incredibly likeable but he’s 31, unwanted by his main employer, has now let down his loan club and risks letting his career drift. It’s sad to see. At his best, with the ball at his feet, Grealish is a true entertainer, always trying to make things happen in the final third with his balance, dazzling footwork and sense of adventure. He’s generous off the field, helping many causes, the latest a £10,000 donation to a Southport family whose Evertonian dad has cancer. Grealish is genuine. But all these uplifting elements to his personality and playing ability are overshadowed if there’s not total dedication to his demanding profession. That’s time-keeping, refuelling correctly etc. Grealish risks wasting his talent, a special talent. Whatever the nature and scale of the disciplinary breach at Everton, reportedly missing training, Grealish has let down a manager in David Moyes who gave him a chance and is short of players anyway. Grealish has an ability to keep possession under pressure that Everton usually could do with but they beat Newcastle United without him to reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup. He's let down team-mates and fans. Do Everton need Grealish? Left wing, now left out. His replacement, Tyrique George is a completely different player, quick but raw. George is developing under Moyes (and Lee Carsley with England Under-21s) and an experienced manager clearly feels he can trust him more. George is 20 with his best days ahead of him. Grealish should be doing everything to prove his best days aren’t behind him. He should be fighting hard to keep Father Time and young challengers at bay. Grealish, as he showed last season before injury, could have a significant role to play, could bring some magic to Everton’s flanks, but he’s wasting that chance. He should look at the whole-hearted performances of the likes of Jordan Pickford, James Tarkowski, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner and want to be part of these band of brothers. Look at the way Hayden Hackney has been assimilated into a strong dressing-room - and impressed last night. There are good people around the club if Grealish needs help in any way. So what next? Grealish will be costing Everton a lot in their share of his Manchester City wages. Pictures from Finch Farm training will be eagerly awaited as will any involvement in Monday’s Premier League visit to St James’ Park. So where will Grealish go next? He did brilliantly getting Aston Villa into the Premier League, and did the Treble at City. He’s achieved much but could achieve more with that talent. His City contract expires next summer. He’s stuck on 39 England caps, and won’t feature even on the fringes of the conversation when Thomas Tuchel announces his squad next week. He’s now at a crossroads. Let’s hope likeable, gifted Grealish takes the right road, the one demanding total focus. #EFC