Grealish continues to excite Everton supporters
Jack Grealish was back in the starting XI for Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and it did not take long for the England international to make his presence felt after being brought down deep inside the Wolves half.
Given the uncertainty surrounding his future during the summer, there were moments when it seemed unlikely that Grealish would be wearing an Everton shirt again. The winger had been expected to return to the Blues on loan after an impressive spell at the club last season, and he was keen on making the move permanent or extending his stay.
However, his appearances for Manchester City at the beginning of August raised fresh doubts over whether the deal would happen. Sunderland then emerged as another possible destination for the 31-year-old, adding further uncertainty to the situation.
Ultimately, Grealish returned to Everton on deadline day and, after making two substitute appearances, was handed another start against Wolves.
With Iliman Ndiaye now at Manchester City, Grealish has quickly become one of the players capable of generating the biggest reaction from the Everton crowd. During his 77 minutes on the pitch, he repeatedly had supporters on their feet with his direct running, creativity and willingness to attack.
He looked determined to make things happen and remained a constant threat throughout his time on the pitch. With Ndiaye no longer available, that responsibility could become even greater.
Grealish contributed one goal and six assists in 22 appearances across all competitions last season before an injury brought his campaign to an early end in January.
Dibling and Alcaraz provide Everton with a boost
Another positive from the game was Tyler Dibling finally showing signs of the ability Everton know he possesses.
The winger played an important role in the decisive moment, providing the assist for Everton’s winning goal and helping David Moyes’ side book a fourth-round Carabao Cup meeting with Newcastle United at home.
However, it was Charly Alcaraz who deserves plenty of credit after calmly finishing past Wolves goalkeeper Joao Virginia.
The Argentine produced an excellent finish and showed the composure that had been missing from Thierno Barry’s game on the night.
Alcaraz has struggled for regular minutes at the beginning of the season despite Moyes having only one recognised centre-forward in Barry. His performance against Wolves could now give the manager something to think about.
That does not necessarily mean Alcaraz is the solution to all of Everton’s problems in front of goal. He had moments last season when his decision-making and consistency frustrated supporters.
Nevertheless, he showed exactly the kind of composure required to break the deadlock against Wolves.
It may still be a stretch to expect him to start Saturday’s match against Ipswich Town, but his 16-minute cameo certainly gave Moyes another attacking option to consider.
This could potentially be the beginning of a revival for Dibling, while Alcaraz may also have given himself a chance of forcing his way back into the manager’s plans.
Branthwaite faces an important few days
Jarrad Branthwaite found himself in an unusual position on Wednesday as he was named among the substitutes for Everton’s cup clash.
Moyes had left the defender out of the squad entirely for the previous-round victory over Preston North End, but this time he was included on the bench.
Branthwaite endured a difficult 2025/26 campaign because of persistent hamstring problems, making just 10 Premier League appearances. Those concerns followed an injury at the end of the previous season, when he was stretchered off against Liverpool in April.
Moyes recently insisted that Everton have been carefully managing the centre-back’s workload.
The Everton manager explained that Branthwaite had been following a specific programme designed to gradually increase his involvement, particularly because the club faced a demanding period of three matches in one week.
The decision to leave him out of the weekend and midweek fixtures suggested Everton were still being cautious with his fitness. However, Moyes indicated that the club now believes the defender has had enough time to build himself back up.
His selection against Wolves, though, could suggest that Moyes remains reluctant to expose him to three matches in a week before the international break.
That makes the coming days particularly significant for Branthwaite, with Thomas Tuchel expected to announce his latest England squad on Friday.
Considering the defender’s impressive start to the season, including a standout display against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, his name is likely to be part of the conversation.
With John Stones and Dan Burn dealing with injuries, Branthwaite has further reason to hope for an international opportunity as England begin their preparations for the road towards Euro 2028.
From Everton’s perspective, however, there is another side to the situation.
While an England call-up would represent a significant moment for Branthwaite, a period of rest during the international break could also benefit the defender and the club after his previous injury problems.
For Everton, ensuring Branthwaite remains fit and available for the long term could ultimately be just as important as seeing him represent England.
UNBELIEVABLE: Jack Grealish sends clear Everton message as Jarrad Branthwaite faces anxious England wait
