David Moyes on Everton's Squad Challenges and Jack Grealish's Return
David Moyes cuts a familiar figure right now: pleased, frustrated, hopeful and wary, all in the space of a few minutes.
The Everton manager is still waiting for one signing to even step onto the training pitch, weighing up a thin squad, and at the same time eyeing the spark that Jack Grealish could bring back to Goodison Park this weekend.
Injury frustration and a missing signing
Moyes did not hide his irritation at the prolonged absence of one unnamed recruit, whose recovery has dragged on far longer than Everton anticipated.
"I don't think we expected his recovery to take this long when we signed him," he admitted. "We are looking forward to gaining his experience, but we haven't even had him on the grass yet. It is disappointing - for us and for him - but hopefully it won't be too long."
That gap in the squad matters. Everton are unbeaten, but they are running light.
Grealish poised for lift-off
Into that context steps Jack Grealish, and Moyes could barely disguise his excitement at the prospect of finally unleashing him from the start.
Grealish, described by his manager as "a boy who needs football matches more than he needs training", is in contention for his first start since January this weekend. That is a long time for a player who thrives on rhythm and repetition, but Moyes is ready to roll the dice.
"It will be incredibly exciting to have him in our starting line-up," he said. "If he gives us what he gave us at the start of last season, we will be thrilled."
Everton need that version of Grealish: direct, brave, constantly demanding the ball. With a small group, one player hitting form can tilt an entire month.
Unbeaten, but not entirely satisfied
On paper, an unbeaten start offers a solid platform. Moyes is not quite satisfied.
Everton’s run so far is "pleasing in some aspects", but he made it clear he wanted more than a steady drip of draws.
He "would have liked to get another win rather than a draw somewhere along the way", though he still praised his squad for doing "a really good job". It is the classic manager’s balance: encouragement with an edge.
He knows this team cannot stand still. Not with the margins so fine and the schedule about to twist again.
Small squad, tight bond
Moyes has long championed the value of a tight-knit group, and he sees a clear link between squad size and spirit.
"You only have to look at Leicester City's title-winning squad to see how their small group of players thrived," he pointed out. That example still carries weight: a core of players, trusted repeatedly, driving standards from within.
But the calendar bites. "It's the amount of games which means you need the extra players, but we don't have European football this year so maybe we can find a way of getting through with what we've got."
That is the gamble. He likes the unity; he does not love the numbers.
Given the choice, he would have bulked up. Moyes revealed his ideal would have been "21 outfield players" rather than the 18 he currently has at his disposal. Three missing bodies is a big gap across a long campaign.
Scanning the free-agent market
To plug that gap, Everton are looking at the one remaining avenue: free agents.
Moyes confirmed the club are exploring the market, searching for someone who can step straight into Premier League intensity. The search is not simple.
"It isn't easy to find a player who could make a difference" at this level, he admitted. The right profile, the right fitness, the right mentality — all without a transfer fee but with the season already under way. It is a narrow window.
Still, Everton are looking. They may have to be opportunists.
Tottenham test and a familiar struggle
Next up is Tottenham, still chasing their first league goal and first win of the season. On the surface, that might suggest a vulnerable opponent. Moyes does not see it that way.
"It wasn't too long ago that we were in those situations as a club," he said, a reminder of how quickly confidence can drain away and how hard it is to turn a slow start.
"We know we can only look after ourselves. We didn't quite make it over the line there a couple of months ago, so hopefully we do it this time."
There is unfinished business in that line. Everton have been close at Tottenham before. Now they want the result to match the performance.
International break looming over everything
Hovering over the weekend is the international break, a two-week disruption that Moyes expects to be "difficult for everybody to manage".
"There will be a lot of players who will end up playing a lot more minutes than others and injuries could be a problem as well," he explained.
That is the tension for a manager with a small squad. He needs his players sharp, but not overloaded. "We've got to hope that our boys do play a bit, but maybe not all of the games."
So Everton walk a fine line: protecting legs, chasing points, waiting on one injured signing, and possibly welcoming back the full-blooded version of Jack Grealish.
If Grealish ignites and the squad holds together, this lean group might just turn a solid, unbeaten start into something far more ambitious.
