Hard graft, humility and working as a unit to be greater than the sum of its parts: three qualities not shown by a certain Jack Grealish this week.

They are also three traits demanded by the Premier League’s most experienced boss, David Moyes, who banished the once £100million man Grealish to the naughty step for missing training without permission.

News of his latest act of ill-discipline dominated every conversation on the Merseyside waterfront before this full-blooded contest with Newcastle but Grealish was not missed as his youthful and energetic replacements put on a show.

Goals from James Garner, Hayden Hackney and Thierno Barry were enough to send Moyes and Co to the Carabao Cup quarter-final and within sight of their first trophy since 1995, something the 63-year-old boss and these loyal fans crave above anything.

Giant-slayers Fleetwood Town are up next. Given the way they toppled champions Arsenal on Tuesday, that will be no easy feat, but a trip to Highbury is all that stands between the Toffees and a first domestic cup semi-final since 2015-16.

Fans around the country have tended to see the Carabao Cup as a chance to save some money in recent years and Everton supporters have grumbled at Moyes and former boss Sean Dyche for having a similar attitude with line-ups.

But a full house of 51,894 here – including 8,000 away fans – indicated that both teams were taking this seriously. Both mid-table, this was a real chance for success.

Even the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, knew that and was in attendance at Hill Dickinson Stadium alongside his wife Marie-France. There was an obvious joke to be made around this week’s budget, which has given a helping hand to those in need this winter.

Given the Grealish-shaped hole in Moyes’s team and the obvious lack of numbers in multiple positions, the Everton top brass might have fancied getting in Burnham’s ear to get the Chancellor’s phone number and ask for a leg-up too.

Moyes has had to muddle through the season with a dearth of outfielders following a botched transfer window, but he has made the best of a tricky situation – one that was not helped by Grealish’s actions.

Any frustration at those off-the-field issues was parked on the night, though, as Everton found themselves two ahead at half-time. It was a scoreline to leave Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle cursing after a string of missed chances.

His side have been a pale imitation of the great team that beat Liverpool to win this competition in 2025 and the jury remains out on Jaissle. But Newcastle should have taken the lead early on. As it was, Everton weathered the storm thanks to Jordan Pickford and several last-ditch blocks.

But the Toffees were first to strike on 34 minutes and it came through Grealish’s direct replacement for a starting berth, Tyrique George, winning possession and, via Hackney, feeding Garner to pass a shot into the far corner.

Just before half-time it was two as Hackney turned from provider to goal-scorer, although referee Farai Hallam might claim an assist. Good officiating saw him play an advantage when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was hauled down when charging goalwards.

Barry picked up a loose ball and fed Hackney who volleyed home, making it look easy when he could have easily fired over the bar. Seconds earlier, Harvey Barnes had been denied by Pickford but Newcastle were undone by a motoring counter-attack.

Moyes would be delighted with the two goals but arguably more buoyed by the defensive rearguard that followed. Jaissle responded by throwing on three half-time changes in Yoane Wissa, Joelinton and Anthony Elanga.

None of them worked as Everton played with their hearts on their sleeves in a warrior-like defensive display that had this new stadium rocking like rarely before. James Tarkowski put his body on the line and Sunderland lad Pickford made several inspired stops.

Barry put the icing on the cake on 69 minutes when Garner robbed Amar Dedic of possession and Dewsbury-Hall teed up the No9 to finish with composure and help his team one giant step closer to ending that trophy drought.

No Grealish? No problem. The Manchester City loanee, who showed his admirable side earlier in the day when he donated £10,000 to help an ill fan, has let his team-mates down with this latest episode.

But with a collection of young talents thriving, mixed with some soldier-like experienced heads and a boss with an appetite for silverware, Everton do not need Grealish right now.

This night was one to forget for him and Jaissle’s work-in-progress Newcastle, who are a shadow of the halcyon days of Eddie Howe’s cup-winning side, despite pulling one back late on through captain Dan Burn’s header.

Everton fans including Mr Burnham, meanwhile, will have March 21 and a potential final at Wembley circled in their diaries.