It was very apt that in a week in which Manchester United suffered a midfield shortage, one of the most promising youngsters at the club showcased why he could one day be an answer to their problems.
United's need for midfield options meant that teenage duo Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo both missed out on a place in the U21 side to face Everton on Saturday lunchtime, with their focus instead on facing Leeds a day later.
In their absence, it fell to Dan Gore to command the United midfield at Leigh Sports Village, something he did with aplomb as he acted as the beating heartbeat of his side in a thumping 4-1 win.
Read more: Ten Hag can unleash new-look attack vs Leeds
The 18-year-old played a key role in United's triumphant Youth Cup campaign a year ago, and with his midfield partner for that campaign, Mainoo, now in the first team, he has every right to dream that he could be next to make that jump.
Gore adopts a much more physical approach to his game and relishes the physicality of the midfield battle, something that was clearly on display in his latest appearance.
In the scrappy opening exchanges of the match, it fell to Gore to make something happen, twice carving open the Everton defence with deadly driving runs, holding off a bunch of defenders before laying off to his teammates.
It was this directness from the captain on the day that helped to energise the United side and push them further up the pitch, helping them to grab the first goal when Joe Hugill fired low across goal to continue his fine scoring run.
Hugill was named the Premier League 2 Player of the Month for January, after scoring five goals in four matches, and he has wasted no time in staking his case for back-to-back awards with another lethal finish.
Everton responded with a lively attack of their own, but would be punished again four minutes later when Gore played the ball to Omari Forson, who fired into the far corner of the net with a fierce low effort from the edge of the box.
The scoreline was harsh on the visitors, but it would soon be fairer when defender Liam Higgins latched onto a loose ball at the far post and bravely stretched to put the ball in the back of the net.
It proved to be an equally balanced second half too, with both sides having chances to grab a goal shortly after the restart. Mateo Mejia skewed a close-range volley wide, before the lively Francis Okoronkwo beat the United defence but lashed an effort over the bar.
United's composure proved to be the difference again, though, with Gore acting as the midfield metronome as he kept everything ticking along nicely, not only barking out orders to his teammates but intelligently moving into space to be a perpetually present passing option.
Everton continued to press but lacked quality in the final third, something that Forson certainly does not. The 18-year-old grabbed his brace when he picked up the ball on the edge of the box, did well to move it onto his right foot and rifled an effort into the far top corner of the net.
When Hugill was fouled in the box in stoppage time, he'd soon get his hat-trick as well. While the first two goals were spectacular efforts, this one was all about composure as Forson sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a calm left-footed finish into the bottom right corner of the net.
In the end the scoreline flattered United a little, but there can be no underestimating their recent transformation as they made it six wins in a row across all competitions.
Next up:
