Peter Reid believes Tom Davies has been Everton’s player of the season.
Davies’ rise to prominence was underlined by opening the scoring in their first away win of the season at Southampton before the international break.
Injuries to both Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph led to the West Derby-born player being handed a regular run of games in the Blues’ starting line-up.
And Everton legend Reid feels that Davies brings a much-needed level of desire to the table for Marco Silva’s side in his recent spell of appearances.
“I think he’s been Everton’s best player recently,” he told Click Liverpool.
“First of all, he’s good without the ball in terms of getting about the park, energy, reading things.
“But what I like about him is he looks to make forward passes early. He always looks to be positive and I think it shows in his play.
“Desire on the park is a big thing. A massive thing and if you’re playing in the games, your opponent’s a good player and it’s tight, that desire gets you through.
“That’s what you need, aligned with skill and ability, which is massive. But a will not to get beat doesn’t half help at all – and Davies has got that.
“I think he’s been consistent. If you’re looking at the kid at the moment, you know what you’re getting every game.
“Some of the players I don’t know what I’m getting every game when I’m watching them.”
Reid is well-placed to discuss Davies’ fortunes, both as a staple of Howard Kendall’s all-conquering 1980s side and a fellow home-grown midfielder.
While acknowledging of the current frustrations at Goodison Park, he is also mindful of the negative impact it can have on the 21-year-old’s development.
“Listen, I think crowds get frustrated,” admits Reid.
“I learnt a great thing once in Argentina when I was watching a game. Newell’s Old Boys were getting beat 3-0 at home and the crowd were brilliant getting behind their team.
“I said to the interpreter, ‘If this was England and you’re getting 3-0 at home, there’d be hell’ and he went ‘They never disrespect that badge or the shirt’. And I went ‘wow’.
“If you’re playing every game and it’s not going so well, get behind the team. As frustrating as it may be, I think it helps players so you’ve got to get behind the team.
“If you get beat at the end of the game and you want to boo, not a problem. You’ve paid your money, it might’ve been poor but [not] while the game’s going on.
“And I think young players like Davies will blossom and develop if that happens.”
A tough run of fixtures leaves Silva firmly under the microscope with clashes against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all before Christmas.
But a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at home to Leicester City offers Everton a chance to take a step closer to a first piece of major silverware this season.
Reid saw the benefits Kendall’s side reaped in reaching the competition’s showpiece in 1984 and hopes his old club will aim to go all-out in the last eight.
He added: “For me, the first trophy is so, so important.
“If I was Marco Silva, I’m not telling him how to do his job but I’d put the strongest side out I could against Leicester and try to win that trophy.
“Sometimes in football, that first trophy is the hardest one to win and the confidence you can get out of silverware is massive with players and with supporters – and that’s what Everton need.”