The forward has yet to feature this season and has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park

The subject of Demarai Gray’s future at Everton took a new twist on Sunday as the winger appeared to question Sean

Dyche on social media.

 

 

A post published on the Instagram account attributed to the 27-year-old read: “Everton fans have always been great

with me but it is so difficult to play for someone who don’t show you respect as a person.”

The comments come less than 24 hours after Dyche said he expected the player to remain with the club after a

summer of speculation of a move and pointed to plans to involve him in the Everton first team.

 

 

Gray was the subject of interest throughout the summer including from Saudi Arabia, where the transfer window

remains open.

Gray did not feature in an Everton matchday squad during pre-season after he returned from international action

with Jamaica. He has not been part of any of the four Premier League matchday squads or the one that travelled to

Doncaster Rovers for the Carabao Cup second round last week. Dyche had previously cited fitness as the issue,

though Gray’s future had looked likely to be away from Everton by the end of the summer.

 

 

No deal for his departure had been agreed by the end of the Premier League summer window on Friday night,

however, and with the late exits of Tom Cannon, Neal Maupay and Alex Iwobi, his potential value to the squad had

grown

Asked about Gray’s absence following the Sheffield United match, Dyche said: “It was a bit of everything – his fitness,

his fitness to play in the side, the situation around him and all of the noise. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks

that will become clear and he will get himself fit as a start point.”

 

 

Questioned whether he believed Gray would remain at the club, with the possibility of a move still open due to later

transfer window deadlines in leagues such as in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, he added: “I do at this time.”

 

 

Dyche had earlier mentioned Gray as he listed players set to return over the coming weeks as he sought to make clear

he still had a squad to work with despite the departures confirmed on Friday.

 

 

Asked about the absences of Michael Keane and Lewis Dobbin from the squad that travelled to Sheffield, he said:

“They [Keane and Dobbin] got knocks in the week so unfortunately didn’t make it. I am hopeful they will both be fit

after the international break.

 

 

We have Dom likely to be fit. Dwight has done well today because he has had three days

training. I don’t normally do that but as you can see we are stretched so we thought it was important to get him

involved so he will benefit from the next couple of weeks, Dimi Gray will benefit from the next couple of weeks,

Seamus Coleman and Jack Harrison will get a bit closer so there are a lot of signs that remind you there still is a

squad here.”