<p>The phone probably felt heavy in Jack Grealish's hand when he posted the update from his hospital bed. "Didn't want the season to end like this but that's football, gutted," the 30-year-old midfielder wrote on social media Sunday evening, confirming what Everton fans had feared for weeks: their talisman's remarkable revival at Goodison Park was over.</p> <p>Grealish underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his foot, an injury sustained during Everton's 1-0 victory against Aston Villa in January.</p> <p>The procedure marks the end of what had been a transformative loan spell from Manchester City, one that seemed to resurrect a career many thought had flatlined at the Etihad Stadium.</p> <p>The timing couldn't be crueler. Grealish had registered two goals and six assists in 22 <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/united-kingdom/english-premier-league">Premier League</a> appearances for David Moyes' side, becoming the creative heartbeat of a team fighting for European qualification.</p> <p>His performances at Hill Dickinson represented something like a return to the player who once commanded a £150 million AUD transfer fee.</p> <h2>Jack Grealish Injury Update: What Stress Fracture Means for Recovery Timeline</h2> <p>Stress fractures in footballers' feet are notoriously tricky injuries, the kind that can linger if rushed. The fact that surgery was required suggests the fracture had progressed beyond the point where rest and rehabilitation alone would suffice.</p> <p>Sports medicine experts typically estimate around three to four months for full recovery from such procedures, though timelines vary depending on the severity and location of the fracture.</p> <p>For Grealish, the immediate concern isn't just missing the remainder of Everton's season. The injury also obliterates any outside chance he harbored of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/world-cup/mens-world-cup/fifa-world-cup-2026-outrights-7009197">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> in the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer.</p> <p>Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized that World Cup selection will depend on current form and fitness, not reputation alone.</p> <p>That door, already narrow given Grealish's omission from recent England squads, has now slammed shut. The midfielder's last cap came over a year ago, and competition for attacking positions in Tuchel's system remains fierce.</p> <p>Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Arsenal's Eberechi Eze have all cemented places ahead of him.</p> <h2>David Moyes and Everton FC: Losing Jack Grealish at Critical Stage of Premier League Campaign</h2> <p>David Moyes had warned about the injury's severity weeks earlier, and those fears have materialized at precisely the wrong moment. Everton sit in seventh place in the Premier League, within touching distance of European qualification, their highest finish since 2017. Grealish's creativity from the left flank had become central to their tactical approach.</p> <p>The Scotsman's system gave Grealish something he'd lacked at Manchester City: freedom. Under Pep Guardiola's meticulous positional play, Grealish often appeared constrained, his natural flair sacrificed for tactical discipline. His assist numbers told the story: just two in three Premier League seasons at City compared to six in half a season at Everton.</p> <p>Moyes built his attacking patterns around Grealish's ability to draw fouls, create overloads, and deliver dangerous crosses. Finding a replacement for those specific qualities mid-season presents a significant challenge, particularly given Everton's financial constraints following years of <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/premier-league-betting-guide">Premier League</a> spending restrictions.</p> <p>The broader question now centres on Grealish's future. According to multiple reports, Manchester City and Everton have agreed that the midfielder will remain on Merseyside for his recovery.</p> <p>The Toffees are "enthusiastic" about striking a permanent deal, with figures around £30-37.5 million AUD being discussed, substantially less than the £75 million AUD option initially included in the loan agreement.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/epl/predictions">Who's tipping what in the Premier League this week</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/epl/predictions/epl-players-to-watch-2025">The breakout stars lighting up the Premier League right now</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/epl-betting-form-stats-analysis">Form and stats that matter most when betting on the EPL</a></li> </ul>