Grealish Returns to Everton Training

Everton's loan signing Jack Grealish trains with Idrissa Gueye as he eyes a debut against Leeds United.

Grealish Reunites with Gueye at Everton Training Ahead of Leeds

Everton have completed a loan deal for Jack Grealish from Manchester City, and the England international has taken the No 18 shirt. He was seen training at Finch Farm on Thursday and shared a moment with former Aston Villa teammate Idrissa Gueye, reviving a longstanding partnership from their Villa days. A club official hinted he could feature against Leeds United when the new season starts, though match sharpness remains uncertain.

Grealish's return adds a new attacking option for manager David Moyes, but Everton face a defensive setback with Jarrad Branthwaite suffering a hamstring injury that could sideline him into late September. That injury may push Michael Keane to partner James Tarkowski in central defence, with Jake O'Brien waiting in reserve as the squad prepares for the trip to Leeds.

The loan move signals Everton's willingness to lean on familiar bridges to jumpstart a stuttering project. Reuniting Grealish with Gueye could unlock midfield chemistry and offer a faster path to the kind of link play the team needs. Yet the gamble rests on a player who has fallen down a deep pecking order at City and is returning from a move abroad, so quick adaptation will be crucial.

The Branthwaite injury tightens the defense and raises the stakes for an early showing against Leeds. If the backline holds together, Grealish's presence might turn Monday into a barometer for Moyes's plan this season. The cost of a slow start would be felt beyond the opening fixture, shaping expectations for the weeks ahead.

Highlights

A season of questions begins with a familiar pair back in the frame