Everton fans, quite understandably, might have expected Nathan Patterson's first minutes for the club to come for the senior side.
After all, the Blues had spent a considerable amount of money to bring the Scotland international to Merseyside from Rangers, with the hope that he could finally be the long-term successor to Seamus Coleman they had been searching for.
In fact, supporters probably expected to see him at least among the squad against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, if not starting the match.
However, the first time they actually got to see the 20-year-old in his new colours, it was on a chilly mid-January evening at Southport's Pure Stadium.
Understated surroundings, perhaps, but still a very welcome occasion.
It is important for Patterson to get minutes under his belt and he wasn't the only player to be stepping back down to this level to do just that against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night - with Jarrad Branthwaite, Ellis Simms and Lewis Dobbin all doing the same.
MICHAEL BALL: Lack of leadership costing Everton as Dominic Calvert-Lewin must start copying Alan Shearer trick
CHRIS BEESLEY: Farhad Moshiri cannot make Vitor Pereira decision as Everton concerns emerge
All eyes from those inside the stadium, and watching a live-stream on YouTube, will undoubtedly have been on the January signing, however, assessing his credentials ahead of what is a crucial period for the first team.
To cut a long story short, Patterson certainly did not disappoint.
The first half was a scrappy affair for much of its duration, with the visitors actually having the better possession and restricting the opportunities Everton were able to create.
While Spurs got some joy down the Blues' left flank on brief occasions, they were getting nothing down the other side.
Patterson was proving to be athletic and tenacious right from the first whistle, making sure he was up and down the flank regularly in his wing-back role.
He showed attacking instincts as early as the seventh minute, too, closing down and intercepting high up the pitch before attempting a one-two with Simms to get in behind the defence.
*Take part in our latest Everton FC survey:
If the return ball had been just a little more sharp, Patterson might have been in on goal.
Defensively, his positioning was often spot-on, getting a number of important blocks and tackles in to stop Tottenham being able to get any real crosses from their left.
And, of course, it was Patterson who provided the real moment of quality that proved to be the difference in the contest.
His flick and turn on the halfway line to Stanley Mills was deft and intelligent, before he burst down the right-hand side with pace to get himself into a dangerous crossing area.
When he got there, it wasn't just an aimless ball. He got his head up, he picked out an inch-perfect cross into the box, and Dobbin produced a fantastic looping header into the far corner to put the Blues 1-0 up. That was the way it stayed.
In the second half, Patterson's crossing ability was so close to making it 2-0, this time whipping in a ball with real power that the Spurs keeper had to be very alert to come out and palm away before Simms headed it home.
By the time the 60th minute came, Patterson was replaced in what seemed to be a planned move by David Unsworth.
Of course, this was only an under-23s match so there's only so much that can be read into it.
Patterson was clearly one of the best players on the pitch during his hour, but he's meant to be. This was less about his performance in a way, and more about his minutes.
They were full of energy, athleticism and determination - everything that Everton want to see from their right flank at a senior level.
Despite the level of this game, the signs are promising. All of the right qualities were there.
This could have been a very interesting glimpse into the future. Surely his senior debut cannot be far off now.
