Everton Under-23s boss David Unsworth hailed Ramiro Funes Mori’s influence after his side beat Barnsley in the Premier League Cup on Monday.
Funes Mori played 74 minutes in the 1-0 win at Oakwell, in just his second game back as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Everton now progress to the knockout stages of the competition.
“I think that was Funes back to a bit of form,” said Unsworth. “He struggled against Arsenal the other week [a 4-0 defeat on 5 February], but obviously that was his first run-out.