Davy Klaassen returned to competitive action as Everton’s under-23 side beat Swansea City.
Klaassen last featured at first-team level in December’s Europa League dead rubber with Apollon Limassol after struggling to adapt to life with the Blues.
The former Ajax captain has found himself marginalised and is yet to be included in a match-day squad since that game at the start of December last year.
But Klaassen was given hopes of a senior comeback as he completed 70 minutes in Monday’s game at Goodison Park, where David Unsworth’s side were 2-0 winners.
“I thought he worked really, really hard, I thought he was honest in his performance,” said Unsworth.
“He was talking to the young players and he hasn’t played for a long, long time so for him to get 70 minutes under his belt, he was delighted.
“He’s a wonderful professional and we’re delighted to have him with us and he’ll get better.
“He needs to play games, his attitude was great and he showed one or two nice touches.”
Ramiro Funes Mori also made significant steps towards his own return from a knee injury that had ruled him out for the best part of 12 months.
Since sealing a £23.6 million move last summer, Klaassen has made 13 appearances for Everton but not made a Premier League game since September.
A proposed loan move to Napoli fell through in the January transfer window, prompting Sam Allardyce to publicly lament the Holland international.