To the outside world, Ross Barkley is enduring the worst week of his life.
Try telling that to the midfielder and an adoring Goodison Park crowd tonight.
Judging by his Man of the Match performance against Burnley, events of the past six days have not even scratched the surface for Everton’s polished diamond.
Confirmation that Blues supporters still stood with him as the world’s spotlight had burned down on him was not required but still appeared at regular intervals.
Barkley and his boyhood club have long shared a bond that would take more than a brain-dead reveller or similarly idiotic newspaper ‘columnist’ to unseat.
Before chalk had even touched his boots, the Gwladys Street’s appreciation proved unequivocal as a banner was hung proudly from the its upper tier.
Unequivocal support for Ross Barkley from the Gwladys Street today #EFC pic.twitter.com/kH7CUaK5X4
— Richard Buxton (@RichardBuxton_) April 15, 2017
Delivering arguably his most sparkling performance of an otherwise impressive season was merely the Wavertree-born player’s repayment in kind.
In a first half littered with incredibly sloppy mistakes from Everton, Barkley stood out above all others and came to his side’s aid on more than a few occasions.
Michael Keane’s goal bound header found a way past everyone in the hosts’ penalty area but crucially, not the England international perched on the goal line.
He would have to come to his side’s aid again in the second half as a near-identical scenario played out in front of the Park End during the latter stages.
A cleverly-worked set piece by the Clarets was also, similarly, snuffed out before the interval as quickly as it had attempted to deceive the Everton defence.
Catharsis arrived in the 71st minute from a shot on the edge of the penalty area.
Ben Mee’s deflection en route may have found favour with the Premier League’s dubious goals panel but Barkley’s celebration saw him truly own the moment.
In front of the Gwladys Street, passion took centre stage as he immersed himself among the fans that have seen him through the best and worst of times.
Prolonging his moment of euphoria saw an overzealous Mark Clattenburg brandish a yellow card. Barkley simply gestured to the Everton badge on his shirt.
True to one of Goodison’s modern mantras, it needed no explanation.
“Of course, I can understand because what happened last week,” admitted Ronald Koeman.
“It had a big impact for him. I think he was focused on the football side the rest of the week and also this afternoon.
“It is the best way to play football to forget what happened last week.”
Everton remains the best possible surrounding for Barkley to continue his career. Koeman knows it and, deep down, so did the player himself before today.
For all the rights and wrongs of the contract stand-off, this testing week has merely strengthened a bond with the club that nurtured him from an early age.
Challenges do not faze Barkley; that much has been clear throughout his career.
He faced a potentially career-threatening one before he had even turned 18 and earlier this season endured scathing criticisms from Koeman in public.
Overcoming both made the headline-grabbing shenanigans par for the course.