Everton boss Frank Lampard was pleased with Tom Davies' performance in defeat at Aston Villa.
Everton's options in midfield have been weakened by an injury list that got bigger when Abdoulaye Doucoure suffered a hamstring problem just over half an hour into the game. Lampard's options were new signing Amadou Onana, whose transfer from Lille had disrupted his training, and Davies, who was returning from a calf injury.
While Everton fell to a 2-1 defeat, Lampard praised the efforts of Davies, who's substitute appearance was his first since he scored in the pre-season friendly at Blackpool.
Lampard explained: "He has had a special programme the last few days. There has been a little bit in with the team, a fair bit of individual work that we can control because injury is obviously the worry in those early days. But now after getting on there, he can train fully with the team with maybe a little bit of top up. We need to get him there quickly because we want him in and around it."