Nathan Broadhead scored five goals as Everton under-23s hammered North West Counties Premier Division side Runcorn Town 7-1 behind-closed-doors at Finch Farm on Saturday.
The 22-year-old was joined by Josh Bowler and Matthew Pennington in the victory after the pair returned from their previous loan spell at Hull City. Beni Baningime was also in action.
Bowler and midfielder Rhys Hughes were on target with the latter agreeing his first professional contract with Everton in January.
Broadhead, who spent last season on loan at Burton Albion, played centre-forward despite operating as a winger for much of his career.
He has been training with the u-23s after heading back to Finch Farm to prepare for the new campaign but the ECHO has been told by sources close to the player he has impressed David Unsworth, John Ebbrell and his team-mates.
Runcorn Town took an early lead through Kieran Holsgrove but Broadhead scored his first of the afternoon soon after with a tidy finish from close-range.
The Welsh u-21 international - who has been included in a senior training squad under Ryan Giggs - had a hat-trick less than 15 minutes later before Bowler arrowed a low drive into the bottom corner to make it 4-1.
Hughes then unleashed a 20-yard effort that beat Town goalkeeper Adam Reid and found the back of the net after hitting the post before Broadhead added two more - one courtesy of a clever free-kick routine - to seal an emphatic win.
"They had lads all over the park with a vast amount of experience," Runcorn manager Paul McManus told the ECHO after the game.
"But it is always good to watch good players play so it was enjoyable to see their fitness and movement off the ball and how drilled they are which is a credit to David and all of his staff.
"I had a few quick words with David after the game and he was very impressed with how we set out to play and thanked us for the game.
"The set-up at Finch Farm was fantastic. The facilities are first class and the pitch was a carpet.
"The facilities were obviously affected with social distancing so we probably missed out on that side of things but Everton did everything they could for us and it was much appreciated and we thank them greatly for today."
The ECHO understands there are several clubs currently interested in Broadhead and Everton are open to striking a deal.
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