Everton boss David Moyes has suspended on-loan striker Jô for a breach of club discipline after he returned to Brazil without permission from the club.
Jô left England for personal reasons before Christmas, rendering him unavailable for Everton's games with Burnley and Sunderland.
Everton have now decided to act in suspending the striker from the club and he will not be available for this weekend's FA Cup tie with Carlisle.
"We like Jô and he has been a really good lad. We have enjoyed having him but there has to be discipline at all football clubs," Moyes told Sky Sports News.
"He left over a busy period for us and left us short of players. I found it very difficult so at the moment he's suspended from the club."
Asked if it was a short-term measure, Moyes said: "At the moment, it might change in the future, but at the moment it is.
The news casts doubt over Jô's long-term future with the Toffees, with the player due to stay on Merseyside until the end of the current campaign.
He joined Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City in July having previously spent a successful six-month spell at Goodison Park.
However, despite scoring five times in 11 league starts last season, his return in 2009-10 has been just two goals in 24 appearances in all competitions.
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Jô left England for personal reasons before Christmas, rendering him unavailable for Everton's games with Burnley and Sunderland.
Everton have now decided to act in suspending the striker from the club and he will not be available for this weekend's FA Cup tie with Carlisle.
"We like Jô and he has been a really good lad. We have enjoyed having him but there has to be discipline at all football clubs," Moyes told Sky Sports News.
"He left over a busy period for us and left us short of players. I found it very difficult so at the moment he's suspended from the club."
Asked if it was a short-term measure, Moyes said: "At the moment, it might change in the future, but at the moment it is.
The news casts doubt over Jô's long-term future with the Toffees, with the player due to stay on Merseyside until the end of the current campaign.
He joined Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City in July having previously spent a successful six-month spell at Goodison Park.
However, despite scoring five times in 11 league starts last season, his return in 2009-10 has been just two goals in 24 appearances in all competitions.
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