Jack Grealish's hopes of representing England at the upcoming World Cup in North America have suffered a significant blow after being ruled out for at least two months with a foot injury. The Everton winger, on loan from Manchester City, sustained a stress fracture, an injury that could sideline him for up to 12 weeks.

The news comes as a setback for the 30-year-old, who had been aiming to impress England manager Thomas Tuchel and secure a place in the squad for the summer tournament. Grealish has yet to feature for the Three Lions since Tuchel took charge a year ago, and this injury makes it even more challenging for him to break into the team. Tuchel will only name one more squad in March for two friendlies before the World Cup selection is finalized.

Despite the injury, Grealish played the full 90 minutes in Everton's recent 1-0 victory against Aston Villa. Unlike acute fractures caused by sudden impact, stress fractures develop gradually due to repetitive actions that weaken the bone. These actions, such as running and jumping, cause tiny cracks to appear over time. The primary treatment involves rest, which can extend for up to 12 weeks or longer.

Everton manager David Moyes acknowledged the significance of Grealish's absence, stating that it is a "big blow because he's been hugely important to us since the start of the season". He highlighted Grealish's key role in the team.

Grealish's injury also presents a financial concern for Everton. The club is reportedly paying a substantial portion of his £300,000-per-week wages, approximately £225,000. This means that Everton could potentially pay Grealish £2.7 million during his 12-week injury layoff while he is unavailable to play.

The injury casts doubt on Everton's potential plans to pursue a permanent deal for Grealish, who joined the Toffees on a season-long loan with a £50 million option to buy. He has made 22 appearances for the club, contributing two goals and six assists. Unless Everton activates their option to buy or negotiate another deal, Grealish will return to Manchester City.

With limited time to recover and prove his fitness, Grealish faces an uphill battle to secure his place in England's World Cup squad. Even if he recovers in time, he faces competition for a place in the wide areas.