Sean Dyche sings Beto's praises after super-sub performance against Fulham

Having come on for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 81st minute of Saturday's contest at Goodison Park, Beto then headed home an equaliser in the fourth minute of time added on, cancelling out former Everton man Alex Iwobi's strike just past the hour as the hosts made it five games unbeaten.

It was a first Premier League goal of the season for the 26-year-old Guinnea-Bissau international, who also scored in the Carabao Cup in August, and five times in all competitions last term after a summer move from Udinese.

Dyche said: "He has been working hard, working hard in training, the staff have been working hard with him so they deserve credit as well, doing extras and bits.

"His development curve has been a delayed one. He didn't come into the game professionally until not so long ago in relative terms and coming into the Premier League, it's different, it's difficult, especially as a striker.

"He continues to work hard and he got his rewards (on Saturday) just from the thing I keep saying to him: 'you don't have to be pure when you're a striker like you, but you have to be a handful, be awkward and grow in that'. It's a real weapon, that, and I thought he was when he came on.

"You can find different ways of operating to affect the opposition and he certainly did.

"I don't know (if it can kickstart a run for Beto), it's a moment in time, but it's nice to think it reinforces the work he has been doing, and it will certainly add to his belief, that's for sure."

Of the 35 league appearances Beto has made for Everton, 26 have been as a substitute, and when asked what he needed to do to start games more regularly, Dyche said: "Just continue learning and get to the point where we have a bank of history for him when he understands the Premier League.

"We have spoken to him a lot about the defensive side of things, he is still getting to grips with that, as is Dom, working from the front, defending from the front."

Iwobi, signed by Fulham from Everton in 2023, had been set to claim the headlines after Emile Smith Rowe evaded a couple of challenges and laid the ball to the Nigeria winger, who advanced to the box and beat Jordan Pickford at his near post.

Cottagers boss Marco Silva - also making a return to Everton, having managed them from the summer of 2018 to December 2019 - said: "The contribution of Alex Iwobi was top drawer again.

"I have to mention Alex because it is a great goal from him, and a great performance from him, from the first minute.

"I think what Alex has been doing so far this season has been so, so good, he has been game by game improving, being more important for us, more decisive.

"Last season probably was his best, and I think he is going to be even better this season. He is taking much more responsibility on his back and pushing the team forward. Much more to come from him I really believe."