While Everton's season came to an end last month, Alex Iwobi's has still been hurtling along.
He's one of a selection of Blues stars who were picked to represent their respective countries over the course of this international break, and has already turned out twice for Nigeria in recent weeks. Two matches in which he completed 90 minutes in both.
In fact, the same can be said for all of his last 12 Premier League appearances for Everton. He might not have been in the same position in each match, but the last match that he missed at club level was the defeat to Wolves way back in March which saw him as an unused substitute.
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If nothing else, that speaks to the increased levels of energy, off-the-ball work, commitment and desire that have been on full display for months now. It's been well reported at this point but it's worth saying again.
Iwobi has turned himself from someone a lot of Evertonians would have loved the club to cash in on this summer, to a player who is one of the first names on many team sheets. His influence under Frank Lampard has been unquestionable, and he's managed to take that through to the international stage as well.
Nigeria have lost both of their friendly fixtures in the current international break, before they begin Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers on Thursday with a match against Sierra Leone. However, his performances have certainly served as something of a reminder of the real talents the 26-year-old possesses.
Playing in midfield once again, his natural position after a long spell at right wing-back in the closing stages of Everton's campaign, Iwobi showed all of the qualities needed in that role. He wasn't playing in the usually attacking role, as a No.10 or sometimes approaching a second striker, that he has often found joy in - but even so it might have been enough for many to take notice.
On the defensive side of things, he made six interceptions and 16 total recoveries over the course of his national side's latest two matches. Those are skills, perhaps, that his regular position towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign allowed him to hone somewhat.
But he also attempted eight through balls from a deeper-lying position, completing 12 passes into the final third and four which found their way into the penalty area. One particular threaded through-ball in the loss to Ecuador most recently saw his team almost win a penalty, and perhaps the chance should have been better converted.
All of that is something Evertonians have become accustomed to Iwobi doing on the pitch a Goodison Park. Now he's often the man leading from the front in term of his desire not only to close opponents down, but also his need to create chances for his teammates as well.
He was the man who stood up to the pressure, ran his heart out and scored a well-deserved goal deep into added time against Newcastle United, in a match that fit right into the end-of-season mood created on Merseyside. His performances at the heart of midfield were so often the catalyst for the Blues, and he was regularly the best player on the pitch even when his side lost matches like the game away to West Ham.
His reward for that was being pushed out to right wing-back as Lampard looked for a solution to take his side through to the end of the season. He's played there before of course and impressed, most notably under Carlo Ancelotti in an away victory over Fulham.
And, because of the nature of him as a player, he'll be more than happy to play wherever he can to benefit the team. It might not necessarily matter to him where he plays.
He told the ECHO last month: "It's good, anything I can do to help the team. I do get the ball a lot, I get into attacking opportunities as well, I just have to keep on doing what I can do for the team," he added.
"Whether it's right wing-back, right midfield, in the middle....I just have to keep doing my best. Before I started playing consistently he [Lampard] told me to go and express myself, play how I train.
"I've been trying to do that and repay the faith. Every time he's always talking to me to stay confident, and that's what I'm trying to do on the pitch."
But, with a transfer window in front of the Blues now, there's really no excuse to be playing Iwobi out of position. In fact, on international duty now he's giving a real reminder of just what he can do when played in the midfield.
Now he's one of the first names on many team sheets, maybe it's time a midfield was built around him. You have to say he's certainly earned that right.
