Jack Grealish availability update for Everton clash vs Tottenham emerges out of Finch Farm
David Moyes has shared an update on Jack Grealish's availability for Everton's clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Grealish returned to Everton on loan from Manchester City on a wild deadline day last week.
The England international was given 24 minutes from the substitutes' bench in the thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
He made his presence felt and appeared to have not missed a beat, despite his recent six-month layoff.
Grealish has been tipped to start for Everton at Tottenham, but that may not be as clear-cut as it looks.
That is amid an update shared by both Moyes and Sky Sports on Friday afternoon.
What has David Moyes said about Jack Grealish's fitness?
Grealish will no doubt be raring to go this weekend now that he is back at a place where he is loved.
The 31-year-old has now played a combined 77 minutes this season as a substitute.
That includes a couple of outings at Man City prior to his loan exit being sanctioned.
However, it must be factored in that Grealish has not started a competitive game since January.
That is when he sustained his injury that kept him out until pre-season.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Moyes confirmed "Jack is ready to play [from the start] but that he needs to "build back to his best".
However, James Green added from Finch Farm shortly afterwards that there is an "asterisk" over whether Grealish can actually start.
"As you can imagine, it's been eight months since Grealish last started a competitive game, so they'll need to be careful with his comeback," Green added live on Sky Sports News.
How could Everton line up vs Tottenham with Grealish?
Grealish may well have an hour in him, which would make sense for Moyes to use the winger from the start in North London.
If he does so, that could mean Tyrique George shifting to the opposite flank and Brennan Johnson dropping out of the XI.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall would then start centrally just off Thierno Barry, who is a shoe-in to start due to - remarkably - being Moyes' only striker.
That is an attack capable of coming away from the capital with all three points, but it remains to be seen whether Grealish will be risked from the off.