David Moyes hailed the return to form of Mikel Arteta after the Spaniard's two goals helped Everton to a 5-1 Premier League win over Hull.
Arteta scored twice and also forced Richard Garcia to concede an own goal at Goodison Park as Everton recorded their biggest victory of the season.
Arteta's goals, which came either side of a sublime Tom Cairney equaliser, were his first since returning to action in January after an 11-month lay-off with a serious knee injury.
Moyes said: "He scored two very good goals and played really well all round.
"Mikel is still not back to how he was but I thought today was more like him and shows how much we have missed him over the year.
"It might take him a while to get his full strength back but he did a lot of good things with the ball."
Arteta's goals in the first half spared the blushes of profligate team-mate Ayegbeni Yakubu by making it 2-1 at half-time.
The Nigerian hit the post when well placed and then had a penalty saved by Boaz Myhill before the break.
He skied another chance over the bar in the second half but ultimately it did not matter as Garcia headed into his own net and substitutes Landon Donovan and Jack Rodwell completed the rout.
Everton had so many goalscoring opportunities - and Victor Anichebe had an effort disallowed - that Moyes was convinced his team had scored six after the game.
"I'm sure it was six," he said. "I'm delusional!"
Moyes also insisted he was not concerned about Yakubu's repeated failings in front of goal.
The Scot said: "I thought Yak did a lot of good things.
"I said to him he needs to score the goal when the game is tight.
"Today didn't matter, it wasn't important."
Donovan left the field to a huge ovation after what was the final home game of his 10-week loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.
"We would like him to stay but it looks like he is going back to America," conceded Moyes.
"We respect that and don't have a problem with it, but he has done well."
Cairney's stunning left-footed half-volley was the only bright spot for Hull, who were overrun in all departments.
After raising spirits by taking points off Chelsea and Manchester City last month, the defeat was their third in succession and left them in the bottom three.
Phil Brown said: "I thought we were competitive in the first half but in the second we certainly weren't.
"We left our game in the changing room for whatever reason.
"Everton were good but we made them look good because we didn't get in the face of the opposition.
"Defensively I have questioned one or two but we will dust ourselves down and get on with it. We have got 10 big games now.
"Goal difference will play a big part this season and that kind of collapse in the second half is not what is required between now and the end of the season."
