Former Blade Dominic Calvert-Lewin was quickly back into the goalscoring groove after making his mark in Everton's 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Sheffield Wednesday.
The ex-Sheffield United trainee, who made a dozen appearances for the first team before moving to Goodison Park in 2016, scored his first goal in 50 days after returning from injury to help set up a fifth-round tie at home to either Wycombe or Tottenham.
Their performance was comfortable but not convincing against the Championship's second-bottom team until two set-piece goals inside four second-half minutes from Richarlison and Yerry Mina.
Nicely done, @CalvertLewin14 👊pic.twitter.com/71sZnihLLs — England (@England) January 24, 2021
However, there was never any real threat of an upset as Everton, in their 26th year without a trophy, edged closer to ending their long wait for silverware.
It owed much to the creative talents of James Rodriguez, who cruised through the game playing at his own pace but still dominated the ball and looked to be close to reaching the form which helped fire the Toffees to the top of the Premier League early in the season – even if both his assists came from corners.
If that continues, Calvert-Lewin – out since New Year's Day because of a hamstring injury but who actually only missed two matches due to a Covid postponement against Aston Villa – will certainly benefit more.
Wednesday midfielder Adam Reach, who together with captain Barry Bannan provided the visitors' creativity, served an early warning with a shot palmed away by Robin Olsen, one of five changes made by Carlo Ancelotti.
59': James Rodríguez whips in a corner and Everton score62': James Rodríguez whips in a corner and Everton score#EmiratesFACup @Everton pic.twitter.com/Ms8Ef1SdLB — Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 24, 2021
It was the incentive the hosts needed with Richarlison having a header tipped onto the crossbar and a goal ruled out for offside after a thread-needle through-ball from Rodriguez, whose clever pass at the end of an intricate passing move saw Calvert-Lewin denied at the near post.
But the England international was sharpest when it came to reacting to Andre Gomes' cross, sliding in at the far post to divert home his 15th goal of the season just before the half-hour mark.
Andre Green's Wednesday debut, after being released by Villa this month, lasted 45 minutes before he was replaced by Josh Windass but the change made little difference.
Our 🆕 youngest-ever player: Thierry Small. 👏@EvertonAcademy 💙 pic.twitter.com/DlOUXALj4U — Everton (@Everton) January 24, 2021
Calvert-Lewin was denied again when goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith turned his shot behind but the game was wrapped up around the hour mark.
Both goals came from almost identical corners from Rodriguez, the first flicked in by Richarlison with the second powered home by Mina.
With the job done – and Leicester to come on Wednesday – Ancelotti withdrew both his senior forwards and late on handed debuts to academy graduates Tyler Onyango, 17, and Thierry Small, who at 16 years and 176 days took the record for being Everton's youngest away from Jose Baxter, who was 15 days older when he made his bow in 2008.
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