Jack Grealish's season is officially over. The Everton loanee confirmed he's had surgery on his left foot and won't play again this campaign.
It's tough news for both Grealish and the Toffees, who've been benefiting from having the Manchester City man on loan. The injury happened during Everton's 1-0 win against Aston Villa last month, where Grealish picked up a stress fracture.
The 30-year-old took to Instagram to share the news with fans. He posted a picture from his hospital bed, giving a thumbs-up despite the disappointing circumstances. "Didn't want the season to end like this but that's football, gutted," he wrote.
World Cup Dreams Dashed
The timing couldn't be worse for Grealish. He had an outside shot at making Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this summer's World Cup, but that chance has now disappeared completely.
For England fans who were hoping to see him in the national team setup, this is a real blow. Tuchel will have to look elsewhere for creative options in midfield.
Grealish remained positive in his message though. "Surgery done and now all focus on getting back fit," he added. "I know for sure I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before."
What This Means for Everton
Everton will feel this loss in their remaining fixtures. Grealish has brought quality and experience to their squad during his loan spell from Manchester City.
The Toffees will need to adjust their tactics and find alternative sources of creativity without him. For anyone backing Everton in their remaining matches, this is definitely something to factor into your thinking.
Manager and teammates will be hoping for other players to step up and fill the void left by Grealish's absence. It's a crucial period for the club, and losing a player of his caliber makes things that much harder.
The focus now shifts to Grealish's recovery and getting him ready for next season, wherever that may be.
