Jack Grealish Injury Recovery On Track As Everton Loan Impresses

Jack Grealish says rehabilitation from a fractured foot is going better than expected, even though the Everton loanee is set to miss the rest of the Premier League season and must watch the push for European qualification from the sidelines.

The Manchester City midfielder, who joined Everton on loan last summer, last played on 18 January in a 1-0 victory against former club Aston Villa. Scans after that match showed a fracture that required surgery, leaving Jack Grealish facing a long spell out.

Jack Grealish explained that medical checks have brought welcome reassurance. "I feel really good in myself now. I had a 10-week Zoom call with the surgeon, who said it couldn't be looking any better at this stage," he told BBC Sport. "So for me, it's happy days and so good to hear news like that."

Everton's staff identified the damage in the days following the Aston Villa win, and surgery followed soon after. The 30-year-old has been working through a detailed rehabilitation schedule since then and is encouraged by how the foot is healing, even though a competitive return before the summer remains unlikely.

Before the injury, Jack Grealish had been one of Everton's most productive players in the Premier League. The midfielder scored two goals and delivered six assists in league action, while also creating 36 chances from open play during his first campaign at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Only Jeremy Doku, with 39 open-play chances, and Bruno Fernandes, with 40, had produced more in that metric at the time of the setback. Jack Grealish also started strongly for Everton, registering two assists in each of his opening two starts, which quickly made Jack Grealish central to Everton's attacking style.

Everton's form without Jack Grealish has been mixed, yet David Moyes' team remain close to the European spots. The side sit 11th in the Premier League but are only three points behind the top six, leaving every remaining fixture important for their qualification hopes.

Key numbers from Jack Grealish's Premier League season so far are shown below.

Talks are reported to be ongoing between Everton and Manchester City about extending Jack Grealish's stay on Merseyside beyond this season. Any decision will likely depend on medical assessments, Jack Grealish's fitness during pre-season, and how both clubs view Jack Grealish's role in their squads.

Being away from the pitch has taken an emotional toll on Jack Grealish. "As a footballer it's always difficult being injured. I came to the Merseyside derby [on April 19] and it got me a bit emotional, because it's something I miss doing so much." The next challenge for Everton is a home Premier League match against Jack Grealish's parent club at Hill Dickinson Stadium.