Everton omit Jack Grealish from Newcastle cup tie over disciplinary breach

Everton left Jack Grealish out of their squad for the Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Newcastle United on October 29, confirming that his absence was disciplinary. The club announced the decision alongside its team news for the game at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where David Moyes named Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George in the wide attacking positions.

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Everton described the reason as a breach of club discipline without giving further details. The Press Association reported that it understood the matter concerned an unauthorised absence from training. That explanation remains attributed to the reporting rather than a detailed public account from Everton, whose announcement did not specify the circumstances behind the decision to leave him out.

The England winger, 31, had also missed Everton's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Arsenal the previous Saturday, but that absence had been attributed to illness. According to the Press Association, he had started the club's three preceding league fixtures against Ipswich, Hull and Chelsea and had made six Everton appearances this season before the Newcastle tie.

Grealish is spending a second consecutive season on loan at Everton from Manchester City. BBC Sport reported that his first spell produced two goals and six assists in 20 appearances before a foot injury ended his season in January. He returned to Everton before the transfer window closed, having appeared from the bench for City earlier in the campaign.

Those City outings included the Community Shield defeat against Arsenal and the opening Premier League win over Bournemouth, according to BBC Sport. Since returning to Merseyside, Grealish had played five times in the league and also featured in Everton's third-round Carabao Cup victory over Wolves. His omission therefore removed a player already involved in the club's progress through this season's competition.

Everton's team announcement also confirmed that Jarrad Branthwaite remained unavailable under concussion protocols for a second match. Moyes made two changes to the side that started at Arsenal, bringing in Hayden Hackney and Dibling for Harrison Armstrong and Brennan Johnson. The club said the Newcastle tie offered the winners an away quarter-final against Fleetwood Town.