It's indicative of modern football that when exciting young attackers break into first-team contention, one of the questions asked about them is over their defensive output.
At the highest level and particularly in a super-charged competition like the Premier League, the teams that tend to prosper are those without passengers out of possession.
Such questions were asked about Anthony Gordon when he was seeking to make that very step up.
In the youth system for Everton he lit up games in the final third, frequently netting himself or laying on goals for his team-mates.
But when it comes to the Premier League, an altruistic approach is required. It's no longer about personal progression, it's about the team.
It was the other side of Gordon's game - the application and defensive awareness - that seemingly hindered his minutes under Carlo Ancelotti in the Italian's first and only full season at the club.
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"I need to be a consistently reliable defender for the team," Gordon said in January 2021. "That is what I’d say I need to improve – and what the manager has said to me.
"I work hard on it every day. It has to come from me, no-one else can do it for me. If I really want to improve and that is my weakness, it is up to me to focus on it and make it a strong point."
But just 10 days later, Gordon was allowed to join Preston North End on loan.
In the year since, there have been some ups and downs for the winger, but at the moment he is riding the crest of a royal blue wave.
In his last six Premier League outings he has three goals and two assists, including one of each in Saturday's fine 3-0 win over Leeds United.
But perhaps just as importantly for new manager Frank Lampard, Gordon is meeting the challenge set by Ancelotti head on.
In the 4-1 win over Brentford in the FA Cup, the England youth international triggered the press for the team, seizing the ball back and earning the corner from which Everton scored their third goal.
And in a whirlwind opening half against Leeds, Gordon was the most dynamic player on the pitch, both in and out of possession, completing four tackles, making six ball recoveries and winning eight duels. He was a magnet to the ball.
His effort against Leeds was the 20-year-old's most complete performance as an Everton player. He carried the aura of a young man at home at this level and at home in this type of system.
Rafael Benitez deserves credit for the way in which he integrated Gordon into the first team - be it through choice or necessity.
But under Lampard there may be another gear for Gordon to click into because of the more enterprising approach.
Under a pressing manager, the academy graduate can be off the leash out of possession.
And Lampard is ready to give Gordon license to go hunting for the ball, something he's shown himself to be adept at doing.
"He is a tactical genius and I am thriving off that," said Gordon after the Leeds win of Lampard. "I’m learning from him every day, stuff I hadn’t heard before."
Gordon's development has not been linear, although in an era where Everton have had little to thank their head coaches for, both Ancelotti and Benitez have contributed to his progression in a positive way.
Now, having cut his teeth in the Premier League and stood up in the face of adversity throughout this challenging season, Gordon would appear to have a manager in Lampard who is ready to implement a tactical blueprint that's perfect for the young Scouser.
Gordon is a sponge and will no doubt absorb the advice he receives from the Premier League's greatest goalscoring midfielder, just as he seemingly soaked up every morsel he could from the experienced pair of Benitez and Ancelotti.
"He wants to listen and wants to learn," said Lampard of the forward post-Leeds.
There's no doubt Gordon is listening.
And if Ancelotti is watching? He will probably like what he sees.
