James Garner was again Everton's best player in the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday, scoring the opening goal and serving up a peach of an assist for Thierno Barry to set up the second.
The English midfielder has been a jack of all trades for David Moyes this season, but he's clearly thrived in the engine room, so much so that when Jack Grealish came on for Nathan Patterson against Forest, Merlin Röhl slid over to right back, not Garner.
But the 24-year-old is set to be out of contract when the season ends in June, and Everton have already been subjected to inquiries about the player's availability in January because of it. The club, for its part, has already approached Garner about a contract extension, something they've already done with the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, and Jordan Pickford since the summer.
His recent run of form, highlighted by his Man of the Match performance against Forest, makes it all the more important that Everton convince him to stay as soon as possible.
While he is not the most athletic player on the pitch, and he's unlikely to beat many for pace, Garner has shown improvement in his defensive acumen this season, all while maintaining his skills as a direct forward passer, something he's always had in his locker.
And while his ability to play in multiple positions is useful, the ability to finally get locked into a central midfield role next to a more ball-winning partner like Idrissa Gana Gueye or, of late, Tim Iroegbunam, has clearly unlocked something in Garner.
Whether this will help him achieve greater recognition on a global scale, or if it will turn Thomas Tuchel's head as the England manager prepares his squad for next summer's World Cup, remains to be seen.
But he's certainly got the attention of his manager, who has praised him throughout the season and added to that effusiveness after Tuesday's win, the supporters, and the football club itself.
With that in mind, Everton need to make locking Garner in for the long term future, alongside the likes of Branthwaite, Jake O'Brien, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tyler Dibling, and Barry, a priority as the calendar flips over to the new year.
If they don't, they'll have to either risk losing him for nothing in the summer or, perhaps worse, sell him in January, adding another need to an already long wish list for the upcoming transfer window.