Huge blow as David Moyes delivers team news ahead of Leeds United task for Everton: Star out and pair warning

David Moyes has provided his Everton team news for Monday night’s visit of Leeds United, confirming a huge blow and with a star pair needing checks.

Everton confirmed earlier this week that star man Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish had sustained a foot injury and that the midfielder would be reviewed by a specialist in the coming days.

Reports in the media suggested that Grealish had suffered a suspected stress fracture and was looking at a number of months out.

Speaking at Friday’s pre-Leeds press conference, Moyes said he was not in a position to provide a timescale on how long Grealish would be out for but confirmed that the 30-year-old had suffered a stress fracture to his foot.

Moyes also warned that Senegal pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye who are both now back available after Africa Cup of Nations duty only returned to the building on Friday afternoon. The pair will be assessed over the weekend with a view to how ready they are to face Daniel Farke’s Whites.

"It's a big blow because he's been hugely important to us”

Asked for an update on Grealish and as quoted by Everton’s official website, Moyes said: “It's not for me to give the timescales, and we've not got it yet from the doctors. He's got a stress-fracture in his foot.

"It's a big blow because he's been hugely important to us. We've had a few injuries but this is a big blow for us.

"We're in close contact with Manchester City, so we'll see how that works as we go along, and as we get more decisions from the specialists."

On Ndiaye and Gueye, Moyes - who confirmed that the pair would be assessed over the weekend - said: “They walked in the building about half an hour ago, so I can only tell you that I knocked a window at them and shouted out the window at them, but nothing else. I've not had a chance to greet them and congratulate them.”

Moyes did, though, have positive news about other players that have been out injured of late.

“They're certainly getting much closer to it”

In addition to the still suspended Michael Keane, Moyes remained minus the services of injured quartet Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (hamstring), Tim Iroegbunam (groin), Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and Charly Alcaraz (unspecified) for last weekend’s trip to Aston Villa for which experienced centre-back Seamus Coleman returned from a hamstring injury to make the bench as an unused substitute.

Moyes had said ahead of the contest that both Coleman and Branthwaite were “back on the grass” and “back in amongst it” despite Branthwaite having not featured all season due to a serious hamstring injury.

Moyes had added that Dewsbury-Hall, Iroegbunam and Alcaraz were getting closer but not training yet.

Providing a fresh update on Friday, Moyes said: “Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are back training. Kiernan's just back in. Charly Alcaraz is back in training. Jarrad is back in training. They're certainly getting much closer to it, that's for sure.”

Everton will still be without centre-back Keane who serves the final match of a three-game ban for his straight red card in this month’s 1-1 draw against Wolves in which he was giving his marching orders for pulling Tolu Arokodare’s hair.