One of the crying shames of Everton's 2-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, aside from the fact that they did not make the most of their positive first-half performance, was that the travelling supporters, and perhaps even the home supporters, were denied the chance of seeing Jack Grealish. Premier League rules, of course, prevented the in-form midfielder from facing his parent club.

Grealish has been in sparkling form since since signing for Everton on loan from City, where he won a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 2023 amid a host of other honours after making a £100m move from Aston Villa.

But while the 30-year-old became a more decorated and complete player under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, in his later years at the Etihad he appeared to have lost some of the magic and swagger that was first on display at his boyhood club Villa.