Jack Grealish is out of Everton’s squad again for Newcastle Vs Everton, and this time the omission is down to fitness. He is not fit to play tonight or be involved at all, leaving Everton without one of their most scrutinised options for a match that already carries weight in the bottom half of the Premier League.
That matters because Newcastle are just one point ahead of Everton, while Everton sit 14th and only three points clear of the drop zone. The gap is slim enough that one result can change the picture fast, and Newcastle host a side still trying to steady itself after a difficult run of nights.
The mood around the meeting was set last Thursday, when Newcastle took 8,000 supporters with them to Everton for the Carabao Cup tie. Many of them were heading home before the final whistle, which left the sense of a job unfinished and the need for a response hanging over this rematch. Newcastle were also described as open defensively, with the expectation that they will go for it again, which gives Everton a clear route into the game if they can find the edge they lacked before.
Matthias Jaissle said in the match programme that there is no time to feel sorry for themselves or make excuses, and that Newcastle must learn quickly, understand what went wrong and where they need to be better. He added that they are in a period of transition and fully expect ups and downs this season, while stressing that everyone must stick together after nights like Thursday. The point of that message is plain: Newcastle need the reaction now, not later.
For Everton, the same old question is how Thierno Barry will perform, because they rely heavily on how well he is playing up front. David Moyes’s side carried more of a threat than expected in their defeat by Arsenal, so the visit to St James' Park is not simply about surviving pressure. It is about turning a narrow table margin and a fresh fitness setback into something more useful before the standings tighten further.
Tonight is therefore less about the missing name than about what his absence forces Everton to be. If Grealish is not available at all, then the next test is whether Everton can make Newcastle pay for being open, and whether the home side can turn a bruising Thursday into the response it promised itself.
