Jack Grealish’s hopes of finishing the season with Everton and forcing his way into the Thomas Tuchel’s reckoning for the England’s World Cup squad look all but over. The 30-year-old sustained a stress fracture playing at his boyhood club Aston Villa, but that 1-0 win increasingly looks to be his last action for the season.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, manager David Moyes said the forecast was grim.
“We believe he’s probably going
to need surgery, but that’s still not absolutely confirmed, but it probably rules him out for the rest of the season, yes.
“It’s really disappointing for the player, and for the club, and all of us here. He’s such an important part, he’s a big character, big experience for us. We’ll miss him. He’s done a lot of really good things for us.”
While his two goals and six assists in 22 appearances don’t look like much, he has played an integral role in chance creation for the Blues and his injury will have to change the club’s outlook for the remainder of the season.
If Everton choose to terminate his loan and return the player to Manchester City, it will open up a domestic loan spot which would allow the Blues to bring in another player. The January window has never been a good one for adding reinforcements, and with club owners The Friedkin Group indicating they would not be looking for quick fixes, there have been no new faces added to the squad with the transfer deadline now just days away.
Moyes added –
“I’d like to say we’re out there looking, which I think I’ve said in every press conference. We’re out there looking. It’s not that we’re shying away from it. I would say it’s probably less than likely than likely…
“(In) January you can find players, it’s not to say you can’t, but I think we’re seeing this window becoming quite a difficult one for a lot of teams.”
Right back has been a problem area for the Blues for some time now, and though Jake O’Brien and Nathan Patterson have filled in there, Moyes seemed to say that the Blues were still trying to add to the ranks there.
“I think he’s done okay. We’ve been actively looking for a right-back for over a year, but I think Patto, when he’s come in, hasn’t let us down, so we hope he continues to improve and keep going.”
There have been outgoings in the youth ranks with goalkeeper Harry Tyrer leaving for Cardiff City, right-back Roman Dixon going on loan to the fellow League One side Stockport County and centre-back Will Tamen joining League Two Tranmere Rovers, also on loan.
Rumours continue to swirl over the futures of striker Beto and Tim Iroegbunam, with Lazio reportedly interested in the midfielder, and Moyes did not outright discount any departures. Iroegbunam returning to training this week will certainly add fuel to those flames.
“People might (leave). But at the moment, we’re not planning to, but they may well do.”
Young midfielder Harrison Armstrong saw his loan at Preston North End cut short and he remains the only January addition so far, with Moyes refusing to say whether he would return to Deepdale or not.
“I won’t make a decision certainly until after Brighton and we’ve played there. I’m in regular contact with Peter Ridsdale and Paul Heckingbottom at Preston, so I’m on the phone to them every couple of days about it.
“Again, we’ll wait and see how things go but he’s not looked out of place in the Premier League – that would be the biggest compliment I could give Harrison, that’s for sure.”
Looking at the squad for tomorrow’s game, Michael Keane will return to the squad after completing his three-game suspension while Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were unscathed through the second half of the draw against Leeds United on Monday night.
“We’ve got Michael Keane back, Jarrad Branthwaite made 45 minutes the other night and Kiernan (Dewsbury-Hall) back.
“We’re still waiting a little bit on Charly Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam , but they’re all certainly getting much closer.”
The Blues are edging back to having a serviceable bench again, but remain just a couple of key injuries and suspensions away from sinking to bare bones again especially with no new signings forthcoming before the January transfer window shuts on Monday evening.
