Leon Osman vindicated Everton's decision to award him a new contract by helping the Toffees into a 2-0 half-time lead in their Europa League clash with Lille at Goodison Park.

The 33-year-old, who inked a one-year extension earlier today, struck a fine volley past Vincent Enyeama on 27 minutes to repay the club's faith in him.

Phil Jagielka then headed home a second from a corner three minutes before the break to put the Merseysiders in cruise control ahead of the second half.

Everton raced out of the traps and could have moved ahead as early as the first minute when Romelu Lukaku forced a finger-tip save from Enyeama.

Roberto Martinez's side continued their barnstorming start to the clash and had another chance on 15 minutes when Steven Naismith headed an Aiden McGeady free kick over the bar.

It proved a sign of things to come as Osman found himself unmarked in the area after McGeady's cross had eluded everyone, before coolly volleying into the corner of the goal.

It could, and probably should, have been two on the half-hour mark as McGeady menaced again to set up Lukaku, who guided his free header well wide of the far post.

Jagielka then showed his Belgian counterpart how it's done, wriggling free of his marker in the area before thumping a header past Enyeama.