Jack Grealish was left out of Everton's EFL Cup win over Newcastle after a club discipline breach, leaving his next steps in question.
Jack Grealish was missing from Everton's squad for their EFL Cup victory over Newcastle United on Thursday, with the club pointing to "a breach of club discipline" as the reason for his absence.
The decision made an already notable night even bigger. Everton got the result on the pitch, but much of the conversation afterwards centred on who wasn't there. Grealish is one of the most recognisable names in the squad, so leaving him out for disciplinary reasons is a significant statement from the club.
Details of the breach have not been spelled out, and that leaves plenty of unanswered questions. It is unclear whether this is a one-match sanction or the start of a longer spell out of the team. Clubs often handle these situations internally, with a quiet word, a fine or a short exile from the squad before the player is welcomed back.
What happens next will depend on how Grealish and the club's coaching staff respond. If the matter is settled quickly, he could be back in contention for the next fixture. If not, Everton may have a wider issue to manage. For now, the Toffees move on in the competition with the result secured and a talking point they would probably rather not have.
