Everton boss David Moyes has leapt to the defence of criticised star Jack Grealish and said he thinks only positively of the on-loan star who was pictured supposedly asleep at a table full of alcoholic drinks.
The 30-year-old, who has been injured since mid-January with a foot injury, was snapped sitting around a table with his head bowed and eyes closed at the far end of a table full of cocktails.
But Moyes said: ‘I only think of Jack as being positive. He has done great for us. He was brilliant for those 20 games or however many it was.
‘I think when I look back at the season, how controlled the team was, how well we played, he was really good for us.
‘So I only think of him positively. He has had a bit of time off because he’s healing from his foot (injury).’
Grealish, who was in attendance at the recent Merseyside Derby and could also be in the stands for the visit of his parent club Manchester City on Monday, is recovering well from his injury.
Jack Grealish was defender by Everton boss David Moyes after a picture emerged of the injured star supposedly asleep at a table full of alcoholic drinks
The forward, who this week surprised Special Olympics athletes as part of his role as ambassador for the charity which uses sport to help those with learning difficulties, had a 10-week call with the surgeon and was told it ‘could not be looking any better at this stage.
Meanwhile, Moyes has slammed officiating body PGMO for the ‘rubbish’ responses they give to clubs’ complaints about decisions.
Everton wrote to referees’ chief Howard Webb this week after they were aggrieved at a clear handball by West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes that should have prompted a penalty and could have significant consequences for the Toffees’ hopes of Europe – and the relegation battle.
Moyes said: ‘It’s always rubbish you get back. You never get anything good back.‘The (club) secretary spoke about it, and spoke with them, I didn’t do so. But it’s never what you want to hear.’
Everton are also irked at their number of Monday night games with this their seventh time this season in that slot.
Daily Mail Sport reported this week that matches at that time cost Manchester United, who have played on six Mondays, up to £1million per game.
Moyes said: ‘I feel for the supporters, for the younger generation who are at school the next day, late nights and all that. We don’t want to discourage that generation of fans.’
The Toffees will welcome back striker Beto after he missed last week’s trip to West Ham due to following concussion protocols after going off in the Merseyside Derby the week before.
