Everton manager David Moyes told Jack Grealish during transfer talks that he would start life at the club as a substitute.
The Everton boss met the Manchester City attacker last summer and informed him he would not immediately assume star status.
Grealish has hit the ground running since moving to the Merseyside club on loan, winning the Premier League player of the month for August for his impressive performances in their opening three games.
“You’ll be starting as a substitute and will have to earn your place,” Moyes told Grealish.
The 30-year-old indeed started his Everton loan spell on the bench, coming on for the last 19 minutes in the 1-0 loss to Leeds United.
He was included in the starting line-up for their next two league games, weighing in with two assists in each.
Grealish now has four assists in three league games for the Toffees and will hope to maintain his form for the majority of the new campaign.
He has plans to return to the England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He was omitted from the last squad, but is expected to be called up for the October games.
It will be difficult for England manager Thomas Tuchel to ignore Grealish if he maintains his current form, and he has the opportunity to do so in the next four games before the next call-up.
The Blues host Aston Villa tomorrow before a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season next weekend.
Everton play Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United afterwards, and Grealish will fancy his chances of weighing in with goals and assists in the coming games.
