David Moyes is facing uncertainty regarding the return of Jack Grealish to the Everton squad, following confirmation of a broken foot sustained by the player. The injury, confirmed by Everton on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, is suspected to be a stress fracture. The Everton boss admitted Grealish will see a specialist in the coming days to assess the problem.

The news comes as a major blow to Everton, as Grealish has been integral to their promising start to the season. Since joining the Toffees on loan from Manchester City in August, Grealish has quickly become a key player, contributing two goals and six assists in the Premier League. His creativity and flair have provided much-needed attacking impetus, and he has formed a strong connection with the Everton supporters.

According to reports, the common lay-off for a stress fracture is typically between two and three months. This timeframe doesn't account for the additional time Grealish will need to regain his match sharpness. Realistically, the best-case scenario would see Grealish returning to the pitch sometime in April.

Grealish's absence will undoubtedly create a significant void in Everton's attacking lineup. Only Bruno Fernandes and Rayan Cherki have provided more Premier League assists than Grealish's six this season. He also ranks joint-fifth for chances created in the league, with 38. Grealish creates 2.1 chances per 90 minutes, a figure significantly higher than Everton's next-best performer, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who creates 1.4 chances per 90 minutes.

Moyes has openly expressed his admiration for Grealish, who has credited the manager and the club with helping him rediscover his love for football. Grealish has featured in 20 league games this season, starting in 18 of those. This is a stark contrast to his time at Manchester City, where he only started 17 top-flight matches across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns.

Beyond the immediate impact on Everton, the injury also casts a shadow over Grealish's chances of making Thomas Tuchel's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Moyes will now have to find a way to compensate for Grealish's absence and maintain Everton's momentum. The manager may need to explore alternative tactical approaches and rely on other players to step up and fill the creative void left by the injured winger. Despite recently having a red card, Moyes has had a positive relationship with Grealish since his arrival.